| A young man clad
neatly in a black turtle neck, black leather pants and a solemn, chiseled
face, turns to his girl who wears the same expression but a black high
cut mini and tight spandex tee instead. Together, they walk down
the brightly lit High Street, where the shop windows glow with goods to
buy and men and women’s eyes sparkle as they pull out their plastic cards
and lay them on the table. As the two approach the crowd that has
gathered in front of the Riley Hawk
Gallery, they are no longer visible, for they blend into the masses
of black turtlenecks, leather pants and solemn chiseled faces. |
| On the first Saturday
of every month, The Gallery Hop takes place on Route 23, just north of
downtown, in this fabulous place named Columbus, Ohio. The area is
known as the Short North, and patrons of this event are meant to “hop”
from gallery to gallery enjoying, art, hor d’ouvres and shopping.
It starts at 7pm but I get there about 8pm, I’m usually late for everything.
I’ve been going now for about 11 years and something keeps me going back. |
Store
fronts of High Street during The Gallery Hop |
| I invite as many
friends as possible; an event like this requires a group to enjoy together
the sounds of Irish bands, fiddlers three and the scratchy beats of a techno
DJ mixing. |
  
Some
of the bands offer cd's to purchase while they play.
|
Editor
Dreama enjoys a frothy cappuccino at
THE
COFFEE TABLE, a coffee shop located on the corner
of
Buttles Avenue and High Street. |
On a cold night,
a nice hot cup of Cappuccino is a welcomed treat for the avant-garde who
pack themselves into the tiny, smoky coffee shops to watch the bourgeoisie
pass by. Joking to each other they ask, “What is Art?” as they toss
their heads to the right, mimicking an actor they once saw in a black and
white movie. |
One
can spend hours searching
curiously
through the antiques,
no
one leaves with out purchasing something. |
Even if I cannot
get into the packed galleries or coffee shops, I make a note to hit my
favorite
antique store, Echoes
of Americana, located at
24 East Lincoln Street.
You never know what treasures you will find hidden deep inside the little
blue house,
scented with apples
and cinnamon candles, where there is always some new old thing to discover.
|
The
homelike atmosphere of Echoes of
Americana
invites you in to enjoy the
treasures
of years gone by. |
VSGal
happily sits in her new chair
recently
purchased at Curio-A-Gogo. |
Also, my favorite
curiosity shop Curio-A-Go Go,
located at 17 Buttles
Avenue has everything
from gorgeous comfortable
chairs, chenille bed linens and natural linen rinses, such as fresh cut
grass and lavender,
to rubber VW satchels
and rubber bottle
cap belts complete with a seat
belt latch. |
 
Wallich
Gallery,
Phillips Coney Island and Torso, some more great
shops on
the Short North.
|
For some, the
fun is in walking up and down the street mingling with all the people.
Perhaps they have no want for art, they are not hungry, or they simply
enjoy the energy and mystery that the historic Short North possesses, the
curiosity of night living, or the need for lurking in the dark.
| Dance
to the techno baby... |
Dreama
dances for picture taken by Dan in the black light room
at
Water
Beds 'N Stuff
|
...shine
your black light on me... |
|
|
I do not know
what keeps me going back to the hop every month. Is it the art? Is
it the food? Or is it the dark desire I have to watch the people?
Whatever it is, I must go back.
|
|
Filmmaker,
J. Joseph Salyer (left) converses with Editor, Dreama (right)
on
a fabulous sofa at Functional Furnishings. Note: The satchel
on
Mr.
Salyer's lap was purchased at Curio-A-Gogo. |
|
And on a clear night,
one can find my friends and I darting in and out of every shop we can fit
into while sipping coffee or juice. “What is a bagel?” I ask, tossing
my head to the right, mimicking an artist I once saw in a black and white
movie.
~dreama
|
Widows
By
Dreama
(A
poem inspired by the Short North)
On the street
lighted with neon
signs advertising
beer, books, art,
and women.
I see them.
Shrouded with
smiles, blond hair,
or dogs.
Walking from shop
to shop.
Alone-
as if a friend were
close by.
Buying flowers
or cds,
they drop their change
onto the counter
and wonder what movie
it will be tonight
to get them through.
A nod as they
make their way,
silently,
to the exit.
Careful not to touch
or meet the eyes
of those passing.
On the street
lighted with neon
signs advertising
beer, books, art,
and men.
I see him.
Alone.
Smiling-
as he drops
flowers into the
pond.
A
little too much cream on Mr. Salyer's Irish coffee.
For more information
on the shops and restaurants of the Short North please visit:
http://www.shortnorth.org
http://www.shortnorth.com
EASTER ISSUE INDEX
THE BOTTOM DRAWER |
