WAY TO GO OHIO, part 9

"columbus never came here, but when the city sleeps, what our dreamers discover is that we have always created our own collective inside joke, one still looking for a punch line, that begins with 'columbus never came here, but...' that's why our city," ... ...

so continues the wall at 88 east broad street. a visiting native who's been living in the pacific northwest for the past eight years asked me to drive him by the other day to see it. and there it was, except for the last part. but in the week or so of meantime the contest judges for the brooklyn born paraprosdokian have finally stopped extending deadlines, made a new selection, and have made the addition to the wall. who cares if the project was supposed to end in december? but that's it: does anyone care? it would certainly stand to argue that the city's identity crisis has already been spelled out -- without the predication of that final clause.

everyone goes to the pizza place in olde towne now, and someone waiting for a table remarks that the city must be recession proof at seeing the place so full on a thursday. aren't they saying the recession is over? and don't they say that the weekend starts early? which was the older news? the other paper will cease publication at the end of the month. "the other paper?" it's old news, no one reads it, although that's probably less to do with the cultural bent of the city and more with its acquisition in 2011 by the dispatch. there's a new sign in light bulb lettering at the bottom of the short north that's absolutely garish -- and nothing new. an oyster bar! they scream. they'd seen one when they'd visited that one city, and now there was one down the street. the urban influx generation's finally getting its proverbial wal-mart. and that's why the city... ...

the next deadline is january 16. have you put in your submission??