Shop Dogs of the Short North

You see them at every turn: Logan, the black & white spotted German pointer at pm gallery; Sam, the uniquely blended Dalmatian + Harlequin Great Dane at Cookware Sorcerer; Rocky the three-legged Maltese and Hudson the Morky (Maltese / Yorki mix) at Rowe fashion boutique; and the list goes on. They are the Shop Dogs of the Short North, and they are as unique and varied as the shops they inhabit.
They may get up and greet you at the door. They may snooze behind the counter. They may sit in the front window and watch passersby. But if you’re a regular to the district, you know them by name and you seek them out.

Shop Dogs are symbolic of the unique spirit of the Short North. Bohemian. Individual. Family. In a nutshell, they speak to the essence of what makes the District so different from mega-malls and other more “structured” concepts … the Short North thrives on the freedom to create the experience each business owner desires. Unique, one-of-a-kind experiences that encompass the ambiance, the service, the products offered and even the staff on hand!

Meet the Shop Dogs of the Short North in a special series spotlighting a couple pups a day.

This Easter, we’re inviting our friends to bring their four-legged companions down for a bit of fun.

Short North Easter “Beg” Hunt

Saturday, April 11, 2009 from Noon - 4:00PM

Step 1: Register In Advance

Deadline is Friday, April 10, 5:00PM
Contact Three Dog Bakery • Phone: 614.221.3647 • Email: threedog@threedogcolumbus.com

Please provide the following information:
Your name • Your pet’s name • Type of pet (cat or dog) • Your ZIP code

Step 2: Start Your Journey

Check in at Three Dog Bakery (611 N. High Street)
When you check in you will be automatically registered for the
Easter “Beg” Hunt Grand Prize valued at $150 - $200
Pick up your Easter “Beg” Hunt map of stops
Pets are encouraged to bring their own special Easter basket,
but we will also provide bags decorated by the first grade students
of Gables Elementary School.

Step 3: Have Fun Touring the District

Using your map, trek out through the district and collect Easter eggs filled with all natural treats. There will be approximately a dozen stops.

Step 4: Win Cool Prizes

Check your Easter eggs for special prizes from from our great partners, including:

Three Dog Bakery, Posh Pets, Mahan Gallery, Rowe, pm gallery, The Lamp Shade, Rose Bredl, Cookware Sorcerer (via Sherrie Gallerie), Huntington Bank, Loot, Baker’s Acres Concrete Jungle, Milk Bar, ROWE, Starbucks, Huntington Bank, Yoga On High, Marcella’s, and Cup O’ Joe.

Look for some of our Shop Dog buddies along the way…

Torso - Scott Rousku
Names: Gigi and Louie
Breeds: Gigi is a Bichon Frise. Louie is a Cotton de Tulear.

Take 2 Apparel -Charlie Gray/ Hallie Gorman
Names: Brooklyn/Bennigan
Breeds: Brooklyn is a Corgi. Ben is…something else; he’s a Schnauzer/Border/Terrier Mix.

Three Dog Bakery - Susan and Doug Oilar
Names: Sadie and Solomon
Breed: They’re both Great Danes.

ARMS Properties - Rajesh Lahoti
Names: Scout and CJ
Breeds: Miniature American Eskimo and Lab/Collie Mix

Segway - Jared Cavileer
Name: Bogart Tiberius Cavileer
Breed: Newfoundland

Tigertree - Josh and Niki Cagle
Names: Rufus and June
Breeds: The rescue told us Rufus was a Schnauzer/Poodle Mix, but then we got June, who we know is a Schnauzer/Poodle Mix, and we’ve decided that Rufus is definitely not that.

ROWE - Maren Roth
Names: Rocky Wisco Roth and Hudson Roth
Breeds: Rocky is a Maltese. Hudson is a Morki (Maltese/Yorkie Mix)

Cookware Sorcerer - Nancy Haitz
Name: Sam
Breed: Dalmatian/Harlequin Great Dane

Collier West - Suzi West
Name: Tchotcke, pronounced Chotch-chkey
Breed: Toy Schnoodle (Schnauzer/Poodle Mix)

pm gallery - Maria Galloway
Name: Logan Galloway
Breed: We call him a German Shorthair Pointer Mix.

Short North Business Association - John Angelo
Name: Puck
Breed: Australian Sheppard/Golden Retriever Mix

Rose Bredl - Mary Ernst McColgan
Name: Savannah
Breed: Black Lab/German Sheppard Mix

Rigsby’s Kitchen (Office) - Kent and Tasi Rigsby
Names: LuLu and Mick Jagger
Breeds: Lu is a Standard Poodle, and Mick is a Miniature Poodle

Sevell + Sevell - Amanda Badgley and Steve and Beverly Sevell
Names: Bella and Cassius
Breeds: Bella is a Yellow English Labrador. Cassius is an All-American Solid Gold Dog.

For years, the Short North has been heralded for its art, culinary and entertainment offerings… all steeped in a healthy appreciation of independence. Over the last few years, however, the Short North has been quickly building a strong reputation on a different front, fashion.

It seems there have always been fashion offerings in the district (Columbus Barber and Beauty began in 1936, Byzantium is fast approaching their 25th anniversary, Loot just crossed the 20-year mark, and Torso and The Garden are celebrating 10 years of success). The Bohemian spirit and artistic flair of the Short North nurture the expressive nature of fashion… and the adventure of defining personal style.

In the last few years, however, fashion has really begun to make a visible impact on the Short North mix. Today, scores of boutiques pepper the strip. On the clothing side, the list now includes Rowe, {Milk Bar}, Paradise Garage, G&Co, Loot, Substance, Emperor’s Newest Clothes, Flower Child, Torso, Tiger Tree, Lady Bird, Saavy On a Shoestring, Measure of a Man, Take 2 Apparel, American Apparel, Lululemon and Jinny. The roster has become synonymous with the Columbus fashion scene. Keeping pace with the clothing, a formidable ensemble of accessories, cosmetics, beauty care and salon businesses has also developed, including: Byzantium, Collier West, Columbus Eyeworks, Image Optical, Global Gallery, Max the Salon, Waldo’s On High, Lai Boom, Phia Salon, Mukha Custom Cosmetics & Medi-spa, Luxe de Vie and Columbus Barber & Beauty.

That’s nearly 30 fashion destinations, and I’m sure I’m missing a few. It seems new boutiques are opening monthly… next on the block is “Go Figure” at the old CounterCulture space.

The Short North’s stature as a fashion destination made headlines nationally not too long ago in the New York Times Style Magazine. Headline: “Columbus Cool” The article spotlighted a host of the District’s boutiques and touted Columbus as the new “Style Capital” of the Midwest. In the latest issue of Columbus Monthly, Short North fashion takes up a full 7-pages in “Shop Talk: Spring Fashion 2009.” The article features shop owners modeling their own fashions and sharing tips on current fashion trends. Jin Fillinger (Jinny), Cindy Zafar and Goutam Biswas (G&Co.), Christina Getachew (Substance), Michelle Woljevach (The Emperor’s Newest Clothes) and Maren Roth (Rowe) are spotlighted.

If you haven’t been in the Short North for a while, or haven’t taken a stroll from end to end, you might be surprised by the changes. You might also be surprised how well the fashion scene fits you.

Morgan has put together a bit of an overview of the boutiques with a spring fashion series of her own which is now posted on shortnorth.org. You can take a peek with a click. Enjoy.

If you are a visual artist, know a visual artist, or know someone who knows someone who knows a visual artist… then this message is for you!

The Short North Arts District is inviting artists to participate in Art al Fresco 2009 (August 15). Artists have until May 22 to submit proposals. Applications are available online at shortnorth.org or by request from CallForArtists@shortnorth.org.

Art al Fresco made its debut on Saturday, August 16, 2008 in the heart of the Arts District, and by every measure, it was a smash success. Upwards of 75 visual and performing artists converged on the district to be a part of the event, which also included special exhibitions at a number of Short North galleries. Over 5,000 guests showed up, touring High Street, cameras in hand, to experience dozens of public art installations and scores of live art performances. The Columbus Dispatch enthusiastically proclaimed: “Bohemians on the Loose!” GCAC even nominated the event for its annual Artistic Excellence Award.

Last year’s best of show accolade went to Ben LaPlaca, Clint Davidson and Scott Williams for their mural depicting the issue of the dwindling honey bee population (at right). A review of last year’s winners can be found at shortnorth.org

A wonderful collection of images from the event is posted on our Facebook page: Short North Arts District.

Kudos to my fellow development committee members for the hard work they have already invested to make 2009 an even bigger success: Joe Baer of ZenGenius, Judy Basso of the Wood Companies, Kristin Meyer of The Art Exchange, Michelle Brandt of Kathryn Gallery, Maria Galloway of pm gallery, Rhonda Bartoe Tucker of Studios on High, Sean Cooper of the Ohio Art League, Christie Nohle of Urban Gardener, Sherrie Hawk of Sherrie Gallerie, Carmen Owens of Surly Girl, Suzie Simpson of Stonewall Columbus, Juli Rogers of r design & printing, and Morgan Baughman of the SNBA.

Following is more information about the event:

Short North Arts District
2nd annual Art al Fresco
presented by The Wood Companies
Saturday • August 15

A day-long event celebrating Columbus’ artistic spirit. Visual and performing artists from across the city unite to share their talents. The entire Short North becomes both a gallery and a stage.

The goal: inspire, engage and amuse visitors while spotlighting the power of public art. In all, over 100 exhibitions, installations and performances will be showcased.

Art al Fresco features three unique components:
The Usual Suspects

A broad range of artwork on display in the galleries and non-traditional venues throughout the district.

Unexpected Guests
Up to 50 artists will create temporary public art installations in surprising outdoor venues: parks, courtyards, rooftops, even the sides of buildings. Most of the installations will exist for only a day, but some will be on display for a month or longer.

PeeP Show
From freeze modeling to celebrity impersonations, from actors to dancers, performing artists will take over merchants’ display windows throughout the district. Under the arches, street performers will settle into the many alcoves to entertain passersby.

Art al Fresco is an event of the Short North Arts District. For more info, please email CallForArtists@shortnorth.org.

A couple days ago I received an invitation to Mahan Gallery’s March art opening. My eyes popped when I opened the envelope. The featured artist: Ric Ocasek. My first thought was: “How many Ric Ocasek’s can there be?” A product of the ‘70s and ‘80s, I immediately associated R.O. with the Cars, even hearing a bit of “Just What I Needed” in my head. It couldn’t be the same guy. And yet, when I turned the invitation over, there was the confirmation. Step One… I immediately called and rsvp’d. Step Two… I pondered why Ric was dabbling in art. I wondered how many people would show up purely because of the fanboy effect, and how many would be there for the art. That led me to a question of celebrity and commercialism versus authenticity. So before I dug myself a deeper hole, I called Jacquie Mahan (gallery proprietor) and scheduled a chat on the subject.

And I was glad I did.

We sat at Jacquie’s desk (pure white, blending in with the white exhibition walls) at the back of the gallery. Before jumping in to the obvious questions I thought I’d start with a bit of focus on the gallery itself.

JA: What is your philosophy about art and your gallery?
JM: I want to keep it real. Accessible. Honest. We are a highly contemporary gallery. We take a lot of risks and they usually pay off.

JA: So it’s not always a formal or traditional installation?
JM: We do feature traditionally hung shows, but it’s also fun to do something non-traditional. Artwork doesn’t have to be so serious. Sometimes it can be really fun. We support young artists as well as high-profile artists. In June we have an exhibit with the architect, George Acock.

JA: How serious are you about the gallery experience?
JM: I take artwork seriously, but I don’t take myself so seriously. I’m always open to learning, to hearing new ideas, and to experiencing. I think Mahan Gallery stands out with a very different gallery formula in Columbus. There are a lot of “art shops” out there filled with pieces to sell. Our gallery is attention driven. We embrace a theme. Make it intense. Make it an experience. We want the gallery to be a destination apart from other galleries.

JA: Give me an example of “experiential.”
JM: One of my favorites was our Maya Hayuk installation. Maya is from Brooklyn and has been to Columbus several times. She came to do a solo show at our gallery. We gave her the entire space. She simply took over. Paintings. Photos. She even painted pieces directly on our walls. Not on canvas, on our walls. It was completely immersive. If you didn’t see it at the gallery, you wouldn’t see it anywhere else. When collectors entered the door, they could instantly feel the art. There was even an opportunity to take self-portraits with the art via a ripcord - camera mechanism Maya installed. Fully engaging. It was a risk. And we liked taking it.

JA: So let’s talk about Ric. How did you get him to make his first gallery appearance at Mahan?
JM: It’s funny. People are going to think it’s only because he’s my father-in-law, but that’s not the whole story. It took years to gradually convince him to take this step. Yes, I had an inside track, but the biggest factors were probably the quality of our gallery, including our website, and his trust in how we would handle the installation. In the end, he decided to let us install the exhibit.

JA: So you made a proposal to Ric and here we are.
JM: Not nearly. It took five years of putting seeds out there. I saw Ric’s work for the first time on a beach trip. My husband Adam said: “You have to go see my dad’s work. It’s really cool.” From that point I began telling Ric: “You’re really good at this. You should share it with others.” We never went much deeper than that, and I decided not to push it. I just kept putting it out there. One day Paulina said: “You should talk to him about an installation.” She’s the one who really gave me the signal to make the ask. So I broached the subject. Ric simply said: “When are we having a show?” I said 6 months. “Okay. How many pieces?”  I suggested 50 - 150. Ric responded: “I’ll send you more.” That was about the extent of the conversation once we got over the hurdle of having the exhibit. So it was a lot of being patient. A lot of saying the right things at the right time. And having no ulterior motives. When he picked Mahan I was really happy, but if he had picked somewhere else I still would have been happy to see the works finally displayed.

JA: So here’s the rub. Is this really about an artist or an insanely famous guy?
JM: This installation is about the person. When it all gets peeled away, (the rock icon, my father-in-law, Adam’s dad, Paulina Porizkova’s husband) what’s left is some amazing artwork. The artwork speaks for itself. Ric’s work is really personal. It’s real. He makes his work for himself and by himself. Being around him at family functions I watch how he works. He sits by himself and starts creating. He’s no longer in the room. He’s by himself. I see that zoning out in Adam as well. I find the work very vulnerable. It’s a self-portrait. Think about it. If you made something never intending for others to see it, you make it real. You make it the way you want it to be. You’re not thinking about how others will react.

JA: So what is Ric’s inspiration?
JM: Ric views his work as a visual form of his music. He calls it the visual noise going on in his head. That’s where the name of the exhibit came from: Noise Colored Party. There is a rhythm and a tempo to every thing you will see.

JA: And what can we expect from Noise Colored Party?
JM: Ric works with markers, pen, and pencil on paper… some even on his letterhead from Elektra Records. There are also photographs, paintings and paper collages.

JA: Is there a theme or message in his work?
JM: Ric is very abstract. You can’t sum him up. His work is what it is. You can’t say it means anything specific… it means everything. If anything, it’s a stream of consciousness show. It’s a product of what people do when nobody’s looking. He’s really being himself.

JA: So this is a big deal for him to take this step with Mahan?
JM: It really is. It shows how paralleled he is. Keeping to himself all these years and now opening up to share his work.

JA: Did he have specifications about the installation?
JM: He said: “Make the installation look like music.” There will be 171 pieces for the show, maybe 175 if we get the four additional paintings I would like to include. The whole place will be totally saturated in crazy drawings.

JA: Will the works be for sale?
JM: Yes.
Photographs $800 - $1,200
Drawings $800 - $2,200
Paintings $2,500 - $5,000

JA: How is Ric feeling about his decision now that the opening is less than a month away?
JM: He is taken aback that people are interested in the pieces. He’s flattered that people like them so much. I don’t think he gives himself credit for his talent. To him, this is his knitting. Paulina is a knitter. She knits every night. I like sewing. We all have creative outlets. His is art.

JA: So what’s left to be done for the installation?
JM: Tons! We pick up the framing supplies on Friday. We will be building new frames for every single piece. Ric is a perfectionist. Each work is float mounted and placed on tiered matting. We will be working nonstop March 1 - March 5. It will take a really long time, but it will be totally worth it.

JA: How has the community reacted to news of the debut?
JM: I think people of the 80’s, people who love his music are particularly excited. They have an affinity for him, they relate to him, they want to know more about him. There has been a lot of support and expectation.

JA: One last question. How did Mahan Gallery end up in Columbus… in the Short North?
JM: I have family here. But that’s not enough. More importantly, Columbus is a viable community. I came to the SN because the rent was cheap. I liked the area. I liked the mix. I felt grateful to get established. There was no other choice. I wouldn’t have thrived the same way anywhere else… it’s a community where we keep it real.

_________________________

Noise Colored Party

Ric Ocasek

Solo Exhibition

March 6 - April 25, 2009
Invite-Only Reception: Fri., March 6
Gallery Hop: Sat., March 7, 6-10p

Mahan Gallery • 717 N High Street

In retrospect, I probably sounded a bit like a pickup artist at the February Hop. I spent a few hours touching base with visitors, asking them a variety of questions… innocuous little tidbits like:

Where ya in from?

What’s been your favorite stop so far?

Come here often?

You can find out a lot that way. For example, the Short North is probably the number one place locals bring out of town guests… particularly if it’s a Hop. Or, that about half of our visitors have never walked north of 1st Avenue. These folks are missing some amazing destinations that have blossomed “way up in yonderland.” More on that later. Or, Saturday’s a-ha moment: visitors WANT to find the galleries, but they need help.

Maybe we (the district) take it for granted that everyone knows where everything is. After all, we all know where Rivet and Terra and Lindsay galleries are located. Right? So when we say “come visit the galleries during Gallery Hop,” it seems like a sincere enough invitation. And that the galleries are distributed over a mile-long stretch shouldn’t seem daunting. Right? Wrong. The reality, as I found on Saturday, is that thousands and thousands of visitors make their way for a monthly sojourn they thoroughly enjoy… but have no idea they haven’t quite maximized.

Well no more! The Short North is too much of a treasure to not explore it completely. Beginning with the March Hop, we will introduce the Gallery Hop Gallery Locator. This pocket fold map will be available online at shortnorth.org, at galleries, and at a variety of shops and restaurants. I’m very excited about its addition to the Hop experience. It will undoubtedly impact the experience (in a very good way) for many, many people.

Additionally, the district is in the process of designing way-finding kiosks that will help even the seasoned expert uncover heretofore overlooked district nuances. Look for more on that front in April/May.

And in the spirit of moving things right along, below is a roster of the galleries you’ll want to add to your March Hop experience. The list is organized from north, around High and Fifth, to south, across from the Convention Center. How many have you visited in the last 6 months?

Rivet • 1200 N. High (near Fifth and High)

Rebecca Ibel Gallery • 1055 N. High (at 3rd and High)

Roy G Biv Gallery • 997 N. High (at 2nd and High)

Lindsay Gallery • 986 N. High (near 2nd and High)

Ohio Art League • 954 N. High (near 2nd and High)

KIACA Gallery • 937 N. High (near 1st and High)

pm gallery • 726 N. High (at Buttles and High)

Mahan Gallery • 717 N. High (near Buttles and High)

Marcia Evans Art Consulting and Gallery • 8 E. Lincoln (Lincoln and High)

Palnik Cartoon Studio • 14 E. Lincoln (Lincoln and High)

Sharon Weiss Gallery • 20 E. Lincoln (Lincoln and High)

Sherrie Gallerie • 694 N. High (near Brickel and High)

Studios On High Gallery • 686 N. High (near Brickel and High)

The Art Exchange • 17 E. Brickel (at Brickel and High)

Kathryn Gallery • 642 N. High (at Russell and High)

Terra Gallery • 8 E. Poplar (at Poplar and High)

Elements of Art / Art Space • 507 N. High (near Swan and High)

Last night Juli Rogers and I kicked off the weekend going to a reception at Rivet Gallery. Laura and Scott Kuenzli were launching one of the more “unique” art exhibits we’ve had in the District for a while: Darkness Into Light. We strolled in around 7:00. Things were just getting started. Laura was engaged with a few other early arrivals. We made our way to the bar set up for this special reception, grabbed a Magic Hat pils and some noshes courtesy of Barrel 44 and slowly began taking in the experience.

The exhibition features selected images from “counter culture” photographers Jeffery Scott, John Santerineross, Robyn Von Swank, Silent View and Chas Ray Krider. The images, most with mature themes, range from ethereal, hazy black and white to ultra crisp, vibrant color. There is a spiritual quality to the collection. Subjects touch on relationships, dreams, role playing and fetishes. Each image carefully stylized by the artist. As fascinating as the photos were, however, the centerpiece of the exhibit was the object d’art created from the skull of a 500 year old Tibetan monk.

To call Yama, Tibetan God of Death a pin-hole camera is rather like calling La Sagrada Familia a building. Yama, created by Wayne Martin Belger, is truly a labor of love and an amazing work of art. It has to be studied slowly to appreciate the astounding design, the quality of the craftsmanship and the exquisite materials, including: turquoise, sapphires, opals and rubies in addition to metalwork interfusing brass, gold, silver, and titanium among others.

As we absorbed the detail of the piece and beauty of the exhibit, a thought entered my mind: “How far the north end of the Short North has come these last 10 years.” Where once primarily thrift shops and empty store fronts dominated, now avant garde businesses such as Rivet are taking hold. You see it in Milk Bar (one of Columbus’ fashion hot spots directly across the street). You see it in What the Rock?! and Surly Girl. Even Monkeys Retreat is getting a makeover. Throughout the area experiential destinations now anchor the north end of the district: Skully’s, Liquid, Bodega, Yoga On High, Byzantium, the list goes on.

As the Jackson on High continues to spring forth (at 4th and High), is there any doubt that the north end will soon be rivaling the south end for the center of attention?

With Rivet setting the standard this weekend, I have no doubt. This Gallery Hop, treat yourself to a new view. Head north.

Darkness into Light will be on display from February 7 - 28. Due to the sensitive nature of Wayne Martin Belger’s work, the Yama showpiece will only be on display each Saturday until the show closes. For a private viewing of the piece, please contact the gallery.

Rivet: 1200 N High St • 614.294.8697

HighBall Halloween was the Halloween event that Columbus didn’t know it was waiting for. The crowds turned out in force and in amazing costume! Thanks to everyone who’s help made this such a success — we couldn’t have done it without ANY of you!

We’ll have more details to come but meanwhile enjoy this slideshow from gilesclement of SoloPhotography from his pics on flickr!

My name is Dawn and I’ve been blogging these intros. I’m a freelance writer (with clips in  Utne, Wondertime, Salon and Bitch: A Feminist Response to Pop Culture) who has a one-woman marketing biz called Open Book Strategies. That’s how I met John. My colleague, Chris Shirer, brought me on board to help John understand the wonders of blogging. One day as we sat discussing tags, categories and other WordPress excitement John said, “Hey, you want to help us put together one hell of a Halloween party?” So I’ve been helping with our web 2.0 marketing including blogging the intros and twittering @HighballHallown. Tonight I’ll be helping staff the beer tents and lending a hand to the tear down. I’m thrilled to have had an inside view on what’s going to be the most exciting event of the year!

What’s your favorite kind of Halloween candy?

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, hands down. The kids know to just hand ‘em over.

Least favorite Halloween candy?

Raisins. Because I never bought into that “they’re nature’s candy” line.

What was your best ever Halloween costume?

The Raggedy Ann costume my mom made me when I was 9. It was impressive.

Which celebrity costume do you hope you DON’T see this year?

I can’t think of one, as long as it’s clever.

What part of the HighBall are you most excited about and why?

I’m excited to see the creativity of the crowds and of the designers. I can’t wait to see the live musicians because I hear they’re swell. And I’m looking forward to checking out the pics on flickr tomorrow!

We’re Angela and Cara with re*dress, your personal shoppers and wardrobe consultants in Columbus, Ohio.  We’ll shop for you for any occasion, or if the economy has you feeling down, we’ll help you clean-up your closet and make it feel new again without stepping foot in a store.  Check out our website at www.redresscolumbus.com.

This week we’ve taken on another challenge - we’re helping coordinate the runway show for HighBall Halloween.  Although we’ve both been involved in the retail industry for years and have attended many runway shows, actually coordinating one is a new experience for us!  And believe us, there is a LOT to coordinate.  After our initial meeting, we hit the ground running: we contacted Dan to discuss the backdrop screen for the runway show (should we project designer names? or images?), we’re in touch with DJ Moxy to discuss the music for the show, and we’re talking to Ryan to find out what designers are committed to the show and how many looks they have going down the runway.  We’re working with the Phia Salon to coordinate times for the models and designers to come in and create hair styles for the models. And don’t forget the make-up!  50 models, 12 designers, 8 hair stylists, 8 make-up artists, countless AV and tech helpers, a DJ and an emcee put on a show that looks effortless and can rival the shows at Fashion Week.  See you on tomorrow!

Anyone can tell you, arranging a glamorous event is anything but glamorous. There’s a lot of drudge work that has to happen — permits to get, beer truck arrangements to be made, figuring out who’s going to pick up all the trash — it’s a thankless job. Sure, people will remember the amazing costumes; they’ll reminisce about their first sip of a Halloween HighBall (the official drink of HighBall); they’ll flash pictures to prove they were there. But do you think partygoers stop to pay tribute to the behind-the-scenes work? No, not if you did your job right. When things go seamlessly well, it’s due to the invisible but vital work of folks like Candice Watkins. She makes amazing events happen for the Hot Times Community Arts & Music Festival, ComFest and The Ohioana Book Festival. We’re damn lucky to have her on HighBall.

What’s your favorite kind of Halloween candy?

Candy Corn

Least favorite Halloween candy?

Candy Corn. I eat way too much of it sending it from a favorite to not a favorite in short order!

What was your best ever Halloween costume?

The blue moon sequined outfit with a beautiful mask.

Which celebrity costume do you hope you DON’T see this year?

Britney.

What part of the HighBall are you most excited about and why?

The whole thing is a unique and unusual experience for us all. I look forward to the whole thing going smoothly!