Weekend Out - February 26-28, 2010

If you are like me and need an excuse to escape your bedroom because you're insanely obsessed with the massive new Joanna Newsom album, Have One On Me, there are plenty of fun things to distract you for a hot minute or two this weekend. The main event may quite possibly be Ani DiFranco's headlining show at the LC featuring Erin McKeown, but there will be presentations of GYPSY from the Center Stage Players happening all weekend and events supporting the Columbus Lesbian & Gay Softball Association as well.

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday

• Center Stage Players present GYPSY live on stage.  Show runs Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 4pm. Tickets available online at www.centerstageplayers.com or by telephone (866) 250-4832.

Friday

• The fabtacular singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco headlines the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion with Erin McKeown attached to support. Grab tickets right here.
• Viva Valezz & The Velvet Hearts give Wall Street another dimension with The Red Light Girlie Show Lounge. 
• Doors open at 11PM with performances through the evening. $3 lounge admission provides cocktail waitress and in/out privileges.
• It's CSLGA Sport Uniform Night at Tradewinds II.
• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour - A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d'ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats

Saturday

• If the pop-punk kid in you needs to revisit your youth for a night, look no further than New Found Glory's self-titled record 10th anniversary celebration tour with co-headlinersSaves The Day. The bands will play the Newport Music Hall with doors at 6PM and tickets here. Hellogoodbye and Fireworks are opening.
• Derrick Barry returns to Columbus as Lady GaGa as seen on America's Got Talent. Hosted by Nina West at 10pm at Union.
• The 1st Annual Best Beard Contest starts up at Exile at 11PM. Prizes to be announced, but you can still enter now at the contest link.
• For Fourth Saturdays, Axis holds their Dog Tag Party - Red tag for "Friends Only", Yellow for "Play It By Ear", and Green for "Crazy Fun".

Sunday

• The Columbus Lesbian & Gay Softball Association will be hosting the 34th Annual Gay Softball World Series of the North American Gay Amateur Atheletic Alliance (NAGAAA) on August 16-21, 2010 and Club Diversity is hosting a Special Fundraiser for them.
• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Showtunes is on that night from 6PM-2AM.
• Wall Street presents the Sunday Night Players comedy group with sketches, live music, and a little bit of drag! Doors @ 7. Show @ 8. 18+. $7 admission.
• Havana holds Sunday Church with Anisa Love at 11PM.

Ohio's Nelsonville Music Festival Gets Loretta Lynn, Man Man, Sharon Jones For 2010

The 6th annual Nelsonville Music Festival will take place May 14-16, 2010 at Robbins Crossing on the campus of Hocking College and they've gathered quite an interesting line-up for the event so far. Loretta Lynn will headline on Saturday night while Man Man and Todd Snider are top billed for Friday and Sunday respectively. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Those Darlins, Michael Hurley, Detroit Cobras, Drakkar Sauna, Southeast Engine, and many more are slated to play as well. The three-day event will feature live music, art vendors, camping, and more for one of the biggest parties in Ohio this year. Check out http://www.nelsonvillefest.org for more information and click here for tickets. Early bird passes are now $40, go up to $45 on March 1st, $50 April 1st, $55 May 1st, and finally $60 at the gate. This is a great deal for anyone in the Ohio area, especially if you can't get to one of the other major festivals this year. Check out the line-up so far below.


2010 Artist Line-Up
Loretta Lynn
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
Man Man
Todd Snider
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
Michael Hurley
Those Darlins
Detroit Cobras
Drakkar Sauna
Southeast Engine
Chris Biester
Seascapes
Alwood Sisters
Duke Jr. + The Smokey Boots

Weekend Out - February 19-21, 2010

The St. Vincent fanboy in me has almost blacked out everything else going on this weekend with my anticipation focused squarely on her show this Saturday at Outland On Liberty, but there are a lot of fun local events happening including the Fiery Foods Festival at North Market and Ohio's own Lovedrug playing Skully's on Friday night plus a plethora of LGBT parties and events including a show from drag king troupe The Royal Renegades at Wall Street, Tony Shaw's 6th Annual Hearts Party at EXILE, a fundraiser for Ohio Mayhem Hockey at Score Bar, and a Special Wine & Cheese Party at Club Diversity. 

Friday, February 19th

• Indie rock band Lovedrug from Canton, Ohio will top the bill at Skully's with openers Clemens, Old Worlds, and The Ballroom. Find tickets here. 
• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour - A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d'ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats
• AXIS hosts Stream Shower Night with Virginia West followed by DJ Rob Engel spinning for the dancefloor at 10PM. 
• For 3rd Friday, Tradewinds II has CD Giveaway Night where you can collect TW's hot dance music. 

Saturday, February 20th

• Supremely talented multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter St. Vincent will be simultaneously sweetly serenading us with her voice and blowing our minds with her musicianship in support of her 2009 sophomore album, Actor, when she headlines Outland On Liberty with experimental pop band Wildbirds & Peacedrums on as support. Tickets available here. 
• The North Market hosts the Fiery Foods Festival all day long with tropical entertainment and tongue-tingling foods.
• The LGBT Ohio Mayhem Hockey Team holds fundraiser at Score Bar where proceeds from Jello shots and a portion of the bar tips will go to help the team with league fees and equipment purchases. A 50/50 raffle will be part of the fun with drawing held at midnight. 10PM-2AM. 
• Columbus' premiere drag king troupe, The Royal Renegades, presents There's No Business Like Show Business starting at 9PM at Wall Street. Hosted by Alexis Stevens. $7 cover. 21+. Wall Street will also have a Traffic Jam dance party for those 18+ at the same time with DJ Michele spinning. Glow sticks provided where green = available, yellow = open, and red = taken.
• Starting at 10PM, EXILE presents Tony Shaw's 6th Annual Hearts Party where leather, red, lace, and black attire are encouraged. No cover. DJ Venus spinning.
• Get on your best sun dance attire for the Spring Break Cabana Party with Nina West at Union.

Sunday, February 21th

• The annual Miss Gay Heart of Ohio America Pageant hits Wall Street. This year's theme is "Scarlet Hearts - Love from the South". Performances by MGHoOA 2009 Delta Blake & MGOA 2009 Symphony Alexander-Love. Doors at 8PM. 18+. $5 cover. 
• Club Diversity will have a Special Wine & Cheese Party hosted by Rick. Signature Wines will be there from 3-6pm. Join Kelly Harvey, owner and winemaker of Signature Wines, for an opportunity to sample six of Kelly's exquisite wines. Only $20 per person, tickets are on sale at the bar. This includes the wine tastings, cheeses paired to match flavors, and a hot & cold food buffet.
• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Then they go to the dogs for their 101 Dalmations Showtunes night. 
• Havana holds Sunday Church with Anisa Love at 11PM.

Thrice and Manchester Orchestra Co-Headline Newport Music Hall Show On April 22

Indie rock bands Thrice and Manchester Orchestra will co-headline a show with O'Brother on as support at the Newport Music Hall on April 22nd. The two headliners released two of the best rock albums of 2009 with Beggars from Thrice and Mean Everything To Nothing from Manchester Orchestra. CD101 listeners may be familiar with "I've Got Friends" and "Shake It Out" from the boys in Manchester Orchestra as they've been on rotation over the last year at the station. Tickets go on sale February 25th at 1PM.

Thrice "Digital Sea" music video (from album The Alchemy Index)


Manchester Orchestra "Shake It Out" music video (from album Mean Everything To Nothing)

Lotus Jams At The Newport & Jason Boesel of Rilo Kiley, Dawes, and Cory Chisel Rock Rumba Cafe Tonight

If you're looking for some last minute concert fun in Columbus tonight, doors are opening soon for a pair of should-be good times. The first is electro-jam band Lotus, known for their wild light show and dancetastic instrumentation, getting down at the Newport Music Hall with Columbus group Under The Sun opening.

The second is singer-songwriter Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley and The Elected drummer) on his solo tour to support new album Hustler's Son at the Rumba Cafe. Folk rockers Dawes and Cory Chisel And The Wandering Sons will open the show as each support their 2009 albums.

So whether you want to dance and jam or just get your alt-country folk-rock on, there's something for each side of the music spectrum tonight.

Here's a video of Lotus performing the song "Spiritualize" in 2005...


Stream a new Jason Boesel song entitled "Hand Of God" below...

Franklin County Animal Shelter Offers Half Off 45+ Lb. Dog Adoption Fees

The Greatest City Of All has run a piece about the Franklin County Animal Shelter offering half off adoption fees for dogs over 45 lbs. now through February 21st. They also detail the advantages of picking up a dog from a shelter in addition to having a new family friend and companion. Read the rest of their article right here.

Local Natives Perform At The Basement On May 12th

Hot on the heels of the release of their tasty debut album Gorilla Manor in the US, California indie rock quintet Local Natives have mapped out a full US tour that will arrive in Columbus, Ohio on May 12th at The Basement. The band are also set to appear at South By Southwest, Coachella, Sasquatch, and Bonnaroo music festivals this year, so they will be spreading the good sounds to as many ears as possible. Check out the band performing "Sun Hands" from the new album on KEXP below.

The Antlers Come To The Basement With Phantogram On April 16

So many good shows are coming to Columbus this Spring that it's going to be really hard to know what to do with myself. It's been just a spectacular year for New York indie rockers The Antlers and you would only hope for the best for them after the finely crafted and sharply written yet complete downer of an album, Hospice. Believe me, it's worth every emotionally painful note though. The group will return to Ohio on April 16th, this time to The Basement with up-and-comers Phantogram. You might remember The Antlers song "Two" as one of my "song of the day"s when they headlined a show in Akron late last month. Phantogram is also playing a show tonight at The Treehouse with Junk Culture and Wing & Tusk, so check that out if you can make it outside. I've attached the brand new music video for "Bear" by The Antlers plus a video of Phantogram performing "Mouthful Of Diamonds" live on KEXP below.

Jay Electronica Brings Massive Guest Line-Up To BoMA on March 5th

Rapper/producer Jay Electronica will storm the Bar of Modern Art on March 5th with a huge slate of guests including DJ D Boogie, Dommy Styles, Debonair, Kim Joyce, The 3rd, Mr. Nice Guy, and many more. Here's his Wiki if you want more in-depth information about the man. Jay will also appear at this year's Bonnaroo Music Festival where his girlfriend, a little musical artist you may have heard of named Erykah Badu, played last year. Check out one of his recent singles, "Exhibit A", below. 

Angels & Airwaves Headline The LC With Say Anything On April 22

Punky L.A. indie rock band Say Anything will be on as support for this Spring's Angels & Airwaves tour that will hit everywhere from California to Connecticut as well as The Bamboozle/Hoodwink music festival on the April 30-May 2 weekend. It will arrive in Columbus, Ohio at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion on April 22nd. Say Anything recently announced the second single from their self-titled album will be "Do Better" and have released a string of acclaimed albums including their breakout ...Is A Real Boy and the double disc, guest-packed In Defense Of The Genre. Blink-182 frontman Tom DeLonge's side project Angels & Airwaves will be making the rounds on the back of their free third studio album, LOVE, which follows the group's 2006 album, We Don't Need To Whisper, and 2007's I-Empire. Tickets on sale February 27th. Check out the music video for Say Anything's first single "Hate Everyone" from the self-titled record and Angels & Airwaves single "Everything's Magic" from I-Empire.

Bernard's Tavern Set To Open February 17th In The Short North

There's a new place in town - Bernard's Tavern will open their doors this Wednesday, February 17th in the Short North at 630 N. High Street. They've written a little blurb about what to expect on their website and you read up on that below...

"Introducing Bernard's Tavern... the newest place in the Short North to meet your friends for a drink! We are your after work headquarters and garthering place, your spot for a "night out on the town", or your place to sit back and relax. Patrons will enjoy a casual atmosphere with an assortment of beers including micro-brews, imported selections, and 12 draft options. Bernard's also offers and assortment of liquors, wines, and other libations.

Bernard's Tavern Menu also presents a spin on traditional "Tavern" menu, with a selection of items that will appeal to most any palate. Start off with a "Baker's Dozen", a sele tion of 13 mini sandwiches to share with friends. Try a fresh salad or a wrap or wone of our traditional burgers, like the "Swentz" or "Ginny's BBQ Burger". We also have a selection of entrees to keep you coming back. We also offer light fare and over 10 Vegetarian options."

I look forward to checking it out and report back if you've got a review on opening day!

Fiery Foods Festival at North Market Announces Saturday's Schedule

The North Market has unveiled the event scheduled for Saturday's Fiery Foods Festival. Make a day out of it in Columbus by following that with the St. Vincent and Wildbirds & Peacedrums concert that night at Outland on Liberty and then stop by Score Bar to support the guys of Ohio Mayhem Hockey afterward. Check out the Fiery Foods Festival schedule below.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Fiery Foods Festival Schedule:

• 8 a.m. North Market opens, fiery foods vendors on premises
• 9 – 11 a.m., musical entertainment by the Andrew Hartman Trio
• 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., face painting by Rita
• 10 a.m., Amateur salsa-making contest in the Dispatch Kitchen REGISTRATION REQUIRED email info@northmarket.com for more details
• 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Mark Wood Fun Show, cowboy tricks and balloon shapes
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., musical entertainment by The Piano Peddler
• 11 a.m. Free maracas, sombreros, balloons and chili-pepper shaped cookies for the kids (while supplies last)
• 11 a.m. Professional Chili Cook-off featuring chilis by local chefs
• 12 p.m. Amateur Chili Cook-off featuring chilis by customers REGISTRATION FULL
• 1 p.m., Amateur Hot Sauce contest in the Dispatch Kitchen  REGISTRATION REQUIRED emailinfo@northmarket.com for more details
• 1 – 3 p.m., musical entertainment by the Island Breeze Duo
• 2 p.m., Hot pepper eating contest in the Dispatch Kitchen
• 3 p.m., Hot wing eating contest in the Dispatch Kitchen
• 3 – 5 p.m., musical entertainment by the Gadabouts
• Hot and spicy foods featured throughout the North Market all day

Spring seems so distant, but the North Market is here to help you melt away the winter blues and blahs with our 7^th annual Fiery Foods Festival on Saturday, February 20^th. Boasting everything from tropical entertainment to tongue-tingling foods the Fiery Foods Festival will put you in a sunny frame of mind! Want to get directly in on the fiery foods action?  Customers can take a shot at fame and fortune (OK, infamy and North Market gift certificates) in a number of contests. There’s the tried and true Amateur Salsa Contest. If you’ve got a good mix of chunky or pureed fruit or vegetable salsa, put it to the test against other homemade salsa makers.  Or maybe you like to play with fire? For you we have the Amateur Hot Sauce Contest. He/she with the supreme salsa or hot sauce concocting skills will take home $100 in North Market and CaJohn’s Flavor & Fire gift certificates. Or one can prove their chili preparing proficiency in our ever-popular Customer Chili Cook-off. The competition will garner the first place winner $100 and the runner up $50 in North Market gift certificates. Finally, those with iron gullets can register on the day of the event for the Hot Pepper Eating or the Wings of Fire wing eating contest. Familiarity with the term “capsaicin” should suggest that neither of these contests is for the faint of taste bud, but victors will take home a plethora of CaJohns’ products as prizes.

In its fifth year the Chef Chili Challenge pits local chefs against one another as contenders for the title “North Market Chili Champ 2010,” a special trophy and $200 in North Market gift certificates. Participating chefs (at the time of press release) include representatives of Basi Italia, Chef Butcher’s Creole Kitchen, Latitude 41, Jerry Bullock, the returning champ from North Market Poultry & Game, Pastaria and Two Caterers. We are sure to have many more chef entrants by competition time!

The North Market Fiery Foods Festival on Saturday, February 20 is a free event. Festival activities will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Market hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. To participate in the Salsa Contest, Hot Sauce Contest, Customer Chili Cook-off or the Chef Chili Challenge, and for more information, please call (614) 463-9664 or visit www.northmarket.com.  Sign up for the Hot Pepper and Hot Wing Eating Contests will take place in the Dispatch Kitchen on the day of the event.  A tasting fee of $5 enables onlookers to sample all of the chilis by both professional chefs and amateur contestants while supplies last. 

Weekend Out - February 11-14, 2010

Concerts, concerts, and more concerts seems to flood this weekend's theme even more than the Valentine's Day parties, but there's still plenty of sweet and dirty love to go around there. Langhorne Slim, George Clinton, Dr. Dog, Leslie and the Ly’s, Dark Star Orchestra, Dirty Penny, Blowfly, and more will be in town vying for your heart and attention. Also noteworthy, Godspell will be playing at Club Diversity all weekend. Celebrate this weekend with the ones you love and the ones you love to get down with. That's all that matters.

Thursday, February 11th

• Santa Cruz glam-rockers Dirty Penny will tear it up Slapsy Maxies at 10PM. $5 cover. 21+.
• Comedic rapper and songwriter Blowfly gets dirty at The Summit. $10 at the door. 18+.
• Wall Street Nightclub has Country Music & Line Dancing from 8-11PM with free two-step and line dance lessons followed by open country dancing. The club totally flips styles starting at 11 with R&B, Hip Hop, & Old School until close.
• Nina West hosts the 'Single & Bitter' party at Union starting at 10PM.
• Stop by Havana for karaoke night starting at 10PM.

Friday, February 12th

• Philly indie rock band Dr. Dog return to Columbus at the Newport Music Hall with The Growlers. Tickets are $15 in advance and $17 day of show.
• All weekend Virginia West presents her Valentine's Day Show at AXIS. Free CD night on Friday with DJ Patrick Finn at 10.
• Wall Street does Project DJ - an opportunity for DJ 'newbies' to take the stage and spin their tunes. This month's D is Yimi, who will be spinning from 11-12:30. Doors @ 9. 18+.
• Havana presents Moral Tales with DJ Detox from the producers of Sweatin' starts at 10PM.
• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour - A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d'ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats

Saturday, February 13th

• Get your groove on with George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion. Tickets are $29 in advance and $32 day of show.
• Grateful Dead cover band Dark Star Orchestra stars at the Newport Music Hall. Tickets are $22 in advance and $25 day of show.
• Singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim headlines show with April Smith and The Great Picture Show at The Summit. Tickets $8 in advance and $10 at the door. 18+.
• RED Party at Wall Street with Ani Difranco concert VIP Box Suite giveaway, erotic shadow dancers, reduced cover if you wear red, and Bacardi Dragon Berry drink specials. Doors @ 9. 18+.
• The First Annual Valentine's Day Post Office Party begins at 10PM at Exile.

Sunday, February 14th

• Iowa pop band Leslie and the Ly’s hits Columbus with Christopher the Conquered at The Summit. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. 18+.
• James Blackmon Presents Valentine's event from 6-10 at Wall Street. Village People after-concert party from 11-close.
• Tradewinds II brings Bloody Valentine - Maria's Valentine's Day Show with Akasha Ohara and special guests starts at 11PM.
• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Showtunes is on that night from 6PM-2AM. Plus Valentine's Day Dinner with a special menu from Chef Ben.

Motion City Soundtrack Bring fun., A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud To Newport Music Hall on April 13

Pop-punk band Motion City Soundtrack will return to the Newport Music Hall in Columbus on April 13th in support of their recently released album, My Dinosaur Life, with a trio of indie pop bands - fun., A Rocket To The Moon, and Sing It Loud - in tow. fun. features members of The Format, Steel Train, and Anathallo and their debut album, 2009's Aim & Ignite, comes highly recommend. Check out music videos from all of the artists below.

Motion City Soundtrack "Her Words Destroyed My Planet"


fun. - "All The Pretty Girls"


A Rocket To The Moon "Mr. Right"


Sing It Loud "No One Can Touch Us"

Titus Andronicus Do Used Kids In-Store Performance On March 10, Headline The Summit On April 22

New Jersey punk rock band Titus Andronicus have been blowing minds on tour and in bedrooms and cars since the release of their 2007 debut album The Airing Of Grievances and they're setting themselves up to rattle even more ears in 2010. The release of their sophomore album The Monitor is slated for March 9th via XL Recordings and they've lined up two dates in Columbus this Spring to support it. The band will first play a free in-store performance on March 10th at Used Kids Records and return to our city a month and a half later to headline The Summit on April 22nd. If their opening set of the Los Campesinos! show at the Wexner last February is any indication, you're in for one (two?) hell of a show(s). Take a listen to the lead single "Four Score And Seven" from The Monitor at their MySpace page.

Back To The Garden Returns To Shadowbox

The much-loved Back to the Garden show, a musical journey through the Woodstock festival, made its comeback to Shadowbox Cabaret this past Sunday and Columbus Underground grabbed Shadowbox CEO Steve Guyer for an interesting interview about the show right here. Back To The Garden will continue running every Sunday at 2:30 and 7PM until further notice. Tickets on sale here.

OSU Hosts Chill Out With Ingrid Michaelson & Mat Kearney Concert For Students On March 10th

If you can make it through the snow, free tickets are released today at 5PM for OSU students to attend the Chill Out With Ingrid Michaelson & Mat Kearney show set for Wednesday, March 10th at the Newport Music Hal. You can pick up tickets at the Ohio Union Information Center at the Ohio Stadium (between gates 22 & 24). The show is open for students only and tickets will be available while supplies last.

New York singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson is perhaps most well-known for her song "The Way I Am" a.k.a. "the sweater song" from Old Navy's 2007 Fair Isle fall ad campaign while Nashville musician Mat Kearney had a sizable hit with first single and title track from his sophomore album, Nothing Left To Lose. Check out their most recent singles and music videos below with "Maybe" from Ingrid and "Closer To Love" from Mat.

Fanfarlo To Play The Summit On April Fool's Day

London indie pop-folk band (you read that right) Fanfarlo will be making their way to The Summit in Columbus on April Fool's Day in support of their fantastic 2009 debut album, Reservoir. Lawrence Arabia and Robert Francis will be opening the show and you should be able to pick up tickets at Used Kids, Magnolia Thunderpussy, and Ticketweb in the near future. You can catch of preview of Fanfarlo's live experience next Monday night (February 15th) when they make their US television debut on The Late Show With David Letterman. Check out their music video for "Harold T. Wilkins" below.

Rock On The Range Reveal 2010 Line-Up

The Rock On The Range fest will return to the Crew Stadium for its fourth year on the May 22-23rd weekend and have started to dish out most of the artist line-up for this year's big event. We'll get what they consider their "headlining" acts out of the way: Godsmack, Rob Zombie, Three Days Grace, Limp Bizkit. Now here are a few you might care a little more about: Mastodon, Coheed And Cambria, Rise Against, Slash, Anberlin, Deftones, and Killswitch Engage. The rest of the bunch includes Seether, Papa Roach, Five Finger Death Punch, Theory Of A Deadman, Bullet For My Valentine, Drowning Pool, Sevendust, and Puddle Of Mudd.

Two-day passes are $119.50 for on-field general admission and $99.50 for stadium general admission. Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10AM. Find more information right here.

GCOA Interviews CEO Of New Local Event Discount Service, TiXiT

The Greatest City Of All blog recently sat down for an interview with Mike Figliuolo, CEO of new Columbus start-up company, TiXiT. As Mike describes it, "TiXiT is a Columbus-based company that offers event promoters (sports, music, theatre, etc.) an intelligent system for discounting and selling tickets that would otherwise go unsold. We love the idea of negotiating discounts directly with venues and passing those along to consumers." Read more here.

"Show Some Love" To Some Newer Columbus Restaurants

The Downtown Columbus blog has posted several new videos featuring some of the recent restaurants that have opened their doors over the past year in our great city including Barrio Tapas, Burgers Dogs & Fries, Caffe Daniela, Dirty Frank's, J. Gumbo's, and The Plaintain Cafe.

What have you tried and how did you like them?

OITL Song Of The Day #15: Keane "Snowed Under'

To commemorate our mini-blizzard, my song of the day is a tune I often sing in my head over the Winter time ever since I heard it back in 2004: "Snowed Under" by Keane from their "Somewhere Only We Know" single and Japanese version of Hopes & Fears.

Columbus Officials Hope To Bring Domestic Partner Benefits By Year's End

10TVNews reports...

Columbus Could Soon Offer Domestic Partner Benefits
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 7:03 PM

COLUMBUS, Ohio — City leaders are pushing to extend health benefits to domestic partners, 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported Wednesday.  

The city was one of the first, but now one of the last employers in central Ohio, to offer the benefits to people who are living together but are not married.

Mayor Michael Coleman is in serious discussions with City Councilman Andrew Ginther to have a plan in place by the end of the year, Kocot reported.

More here.

OITL Song Of The Day #14: The xx "Crystalised"

To all my dear fellow indie rock fans and hipsters, the Wexner Center Twitter feed has given you advance warning about The xx & jj show set for April 5th at the Performance Space:

Also: even though it's two months away, if you're thinking of getting tix to The XX at the Wex, I wouldn't delay. http://bit.ly/adFqK0

Sell out is imminent. I have my tickets in hand and I want everyone here to have your chance to see the scandelicious musical treat that is The xx live. So to give you that push, here's my song of the day, "Crystalised", from their 2009 debut and my third favorite LP of the year, xx.



Bonus treat: Opening track "My Life" from Swedish indie pop band jj's forthcoming 2010 album, jj n˚ 3. She lyrically covers Lil Wayne's chorus from The Game's single of the same name as well ATC's "Around The World" in the song. The group will be supporting The xx at the show.

Weekend Out - February 5-7, 2010

This weekend is fully loaded with fun things to do like the RJD2 homecoming/DoneWaiting.com anniversary show at Skully's, free Asobi Seksu acoustic show at Kenyon College, and Mardi Gras celebrations at a number of clubs. In addition, there are many ways to help support the local LGBT community including the Equality Happy Hour event at Union and the Ohio Mayhem Hockey Team Fundraiser at Score Bar. Besides all these great activities competing for your attention though, Ohio is up against a Winter Storm Warning with a heavy snow flow forecast ahead as well. If you can't find your way out, Zombieland made its DVD/BD debut this week, so that's good for an hour and a half of some of the finest entertainment 2009 film had to offer.

Friday, February 5th

• On The Floor Productions and Done Waiting present the DoneWaiting.com 7-year anniversary party at Skully's headlined by Columbus native electronic artist and producer RJD2 with support from Happy Chichester, Kenan Bell, Thought Collective, and DJ Detox. Tickets will be $15 at the door.
• New York dream pop band Asobi Seksu will play a free acoustic show at The Horn College at Kenyon College in Gambier in support of their 2009 full-length studio album, Hush, and acoustic album, Rewolf.
• **Rescheduled For February 20th** The Ohio Mayhem Hockey Team holds fundraiser at Score Bar where proceeds from Jello shots and a portion of the bar tips will go to help the team with league fees and equipment purchases. A 50/50 raffle will be part of the fun with drawing held at midnight. 9PM-2AM. **Rescheduled For February 20th**
• Union hosts Equality Happy Hour - A laid back FUN-draiser where you can enjoy Premium martinis for $4 alongside complimentary hors d'ouvres. $1 of every martini goes back to Equality Ohio, HRC, 2010 Softball World Series, and the Stonewall Democrats.
• As part of their Mardi Gras festivities, Tradewinds II has their $1.98 Beauty Contest to elect the Mardi Gras Queen in the talent, evening gown, and covered dish categories.
• It's First Friday at Wall Street - the biggest night of each month - with no cover, $2 domestics from 8-9, and past and current dance classics spinning with DJ Michele.
• Axis has First Friday Frat Night with free admission with college ID. Hot jocks in Pump @ 10PM.
• Strap up for this week's Exile "Fetish Friday" event with "Bondage" being the core theme for the most daring of the First Friday celebrations in Columbus this weekend.  Rawr is right.

Saturday, February 6th

• Deanna Sweeney with Kevin Patric, Gretchen Schuster, & Brian Coon play Club Diversity at 9:30 PM. 
• Axis does double duty events with their Mardi Gras Party and Miss Gay Ohio USofA All-Star Show.
• Exile saves face with the Exile & Trident International Mardi Gras Mask Night from 9PM to 2:30AM. And it's the first Saturday of the month, so you can bet your ass their "Best Ass Contest" will be underway as well. No additional ass mask required.

Sunday, February 7th

• Union has their Sunday Brunch with all-you-can-eat buffet and made-to-order gourmet omelets for $9.99 plus $3 Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Showtunes is on that night from 6PM-2AM.
• Wall Street and James Club Entertainment partners for another James Blackmon Presents! production featuring James Blackmon, Jazz Mary, and Dane Terry. Cocktails begin at 6. Performances at 7. $4 admission with $3 Absolut cocktail special.
• Miss Ohio USofA starts at 7PM at Axis with the reigning Paige Passion.
• Havana holds Sunday Church with Anisa Love at 11PM.

Wild Goose Creative hosts first annual BeerCamp in Columbus

From the event's webpage: Come join the fun at Wild Goose Creative as we celebrate Columbus' first annual BeerCamp; Better than any other event on March 28, 2010!

What is BeerCamp you ask?

Our event will feature all things beer. There will be 4 different competitions all centered on the love of beer. There will be beer crafts and art, food cooked with beer, homebrewed beer and beer music as well!

Interested in attending? Click here to buy tickets, only 21 and over please, we will be checking ID's at the door! :) We are only selling a limited number of tickets so buy early and often!

Interested in participating? Enter a competition! See the list at right! Or join:

BeerCamp Parade; The Best Parade in Old(E) North Columbus.

The official BeerCamp parade starts at 1pm and will march around Wild Goose Creative in Old North Columbus. Don't miss being a member of the first parade ever in this historic part of Columbus. All parade participants will receive a goody bag for their efforts. Click here to register your float or marching group of misfits. We will only be accepting a limited number of participants due to permit limitations so get your idea in early!

COMPETITIONS

* Homebrewed Beer
   - Dark and Light categories - plus special points for creative or local ingredients.

* Food Cooked with Beer
   - Savory or Sweet we want it all!

* Beer Crafts or Art
   - Made with beer, inspired by beer, looks like beer...get creative!

* Beer Label Design Contest
   - Design a label for a beer bottle and we'll pick the BEST! May even end up on an actual bottle of beer!

Click HERE to enter!

All entries for competitions must be submitted by Monday February 15th. We will notify all those selected to compete by Monday February 22nd along with details and instructions on competition.

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy Support Repeal Of DADT

From The Columbus Dispatch: "Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy of Columbus and Sen. Sherrod Brown liked what they heard this week from the military's top commander about repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

But GOP Rep. Pat Tiberi of Genoa Township and Sen. George V. Voinovich want to hear more before they make up their minds - and noted that the military will be studying how to move forward on the issue."

Read more here.

OITL Song Of The Day #13: The Magnetic Fields "You Must Be Out Of Your Mind"

The song of the day comes from indie pop songwriter Stephin Merritt and The Magnetic Fields with the opening track "You Must Be Out Of Your Mind" from their new album, Realism. This is the final album in what was referred to as the "no synth" trilogy following i and Distortion.



Also, check out a new press release announcing the much anticipated release of one of the finest sets from the 90s, 69 Love Songs, on vinyl:

“As an early Valentine’s Day treat, we are announcing the long-awaited release of The Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs box set on limited-edition 10” vinyl (with MP3 download coupon) to be released in stores on April 20! We are accepting pre-orders now in the Merge store at a special price and all orders before Valentine’s Day will receive a printable e-valentine for their special friend or loved one in time for the holiday. Orders will ship to arrive on or around the April 20 release date.

The story has it that Stephin Merritt came up with the idea for 69 Love Songs while sitting in an elegant midtown Manhattan gay piano bar. He originally planned for it to be a live musical revue, performed with a rotating cast of singers in the plush hotel bars and cabarets of New York City.

69 Love Songs was released in September of 1999. Fans and critics were ecstatic, and 69 Love Songs became one of the most talked-about records of 1999. It remains one of the most beloved albums in our catalog. As Spin magazine said, “Like the best cabaret, Stephin Merritt’s triple-CD monsterpiece charms on contact, and like the best indie-pop, you’ll want to unravel it endlessly.”

The limited-edition box set includes all 69 love songs re-mastered for vinyl on six 10” records and housed in a super-sized 69 Love Songs box, along with a 10” version of the original booklet featuring liner notes written by Lemony Snicket author Daniel Handler.”

OITL Song Of The Day #12: Passion Pit "Little Secrets"

Massachusetts electropop outfit Passion Pit produced one of the best and most infectious albums of 2009 with their debut, Manners, and they've certainly caught on with Columbus music fans. Their CD101 Low Dough show last September at the Newport was a sold out event and it appears like their original plans to return to the venue on March 31st has yielded similar results two months early. Luckily for fans, the space has now been upgraded to the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion and there are still tickets left, although I wouldn't imagine it will stay that way very long.

That entire week and a half is fairly nutty for indie music here in Columbus with Vampire Weekend, Passion Pit, Tegan And Sara, The xx, Henry Rollins, David Bazan, Deerhunter, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Girls, Major Lazer, Butch Walker, Steel Train, Headlights, jj, Band Of Skulls, High Places, Sleigh Bells, Dum Dum Girls, Holly Miranda, Rusko, and Mayer Hawthorne all playing sets in our wonderful city. That's just mindbogglingly amazing. I think even NYC has to be jealous of us during that time period. *drools*

Where was I again while I was getting lost in musical lust? Oh yes. If you needed any convincing or hadn't found your way to Passion Pit yet, I present you with our song of the day, "Little Secrets", from the aforementioned album, Manners. I dare you not to get up in your chair and dance and maybe explode. Enjoy!

Wonderland Revealed

Columbus was buzzing on Friday when the masses flooded Junctionview Studios to feast on more information surrounding the biggest question hovering over the local arts community recently - What is Wonderland? The Dispatch covered the unveiling, but here are some highlights to note:

* The facility will be housed in the former Wonder Bread factory and include artist studios, shared coworking space, band rehearsal and recording space, retail, and more.

* The five core project members are Adam Brouillette from Couchfire Collectives, Andrew Dodson from Central City Recording, David Hunegnaw from The Sandbox Columbus, Kevin Lykens from Lykens Companies, and Josh Quinn from Tigertree.

* Plans are for the first tentants to be moved in by later this Summer and to be completely rolling by the end of 2010.

* A nonprofit group will manage as to ensure low rent and be eligible for tax breaks and grant funding.

* They are trying to get video and other renderings up online in the near future and we'll post that when it is available.

* The group wants to hear from potential tenants, neighbors, donors, and supporters about what they think and how they'd like to get involved, so please fill out this form when you have time.

Wonderland official site.
Wonderland on Facebook.
Wonderland on Twitter.

Wexner Center Announces Girls/Dum Dum Girls and Owen Pallett Shows For April

"Oh, I wish I had a boyfriend..." If you weren't humming the tune for "Lust For Life" from San Francisco indie rock duo Girls for the last half of 2009, you experienced the year all wrong. The band released their debut disc, conveniently titled Album, to widespread critical praise and have built a band and sizable fanbase from their time on the road over the last year. This Spring they will headline a show on April 6th at the Wexner Center Performance Space with noise pop band Dum Dum Girls. Tickets go on sale this Friday. 

Filling the Performance Space a week later on April 13th will be the incredible Canadian violinist and singer-songwriter Owen Pallett (formerly known as Final Fantasy), who will bring his dazzling brand of baroque pop to Columbus audiences in support of his third full-length album, Heartland, released last month. Tickets for that show also go on sale on February 5th. 

Check out tunes from all three artists below and if you haven't picked up tickets for the The xx and jj, also playing the Wexner on April 5th, you must do so immediately. 

Girls "Lust For Life"

Dum Dum Girls "Jail La La"

Owen Pallett "Lewis Takes Off His Shirt" (live)