The Grandview Hop - its time to try it « Columbus Underground Messageboard

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The Grandview Hop - its time to try it

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Started 2 years ago by thecandlelab
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thecandlelab
Columbus, OH
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The Grandview Hop is mid-way through the third year, and has come a long way from the initial controversy that marked its beginning. It happens the last Saturday of every month from April through November. Its 5 to 9pm, and happens along Grandview Avenue between 1st and 5th Avenues.

The event started as "The Grandview Art Hop", but we dropped the "Art" from the name to help clarify the intent of the event. We still feature plenty of artists inside the merchants and outside on the sidewalk, but we changed the name to make it more of an inclusive event. Its a celebration of everything that Grandview has to offer, and it meant to showcase the unique mix of restaurants, bars, galleries and boutique retailers we offer.

The initial organizers of the Hop took quite a beating on CU in the beginning, and rightfully so. We have a new board made up of 9 business owners on Grandview Avenue, and a renewed commitment to partner with as many groups (Couchfire, Sunny 95 & Mix 107.8, Grandview Arts Council, etc) as we can to make this event a success. We would love to re-invite everyone to come and check out the new and improved version. We also want some feedback on what you think of the event, what still needs some work, and who we should be partnering with to make it even better.

We always feature 6 or 7 bands in various places around the Avenue, coupled with 30+ outdoor vendors, a tent party with food and beer on the front lawn of St. Christopher Church, a parking lot party at Arlington Bank, and lots of promotions and programming in the participating businesses. Please come down and check it out (either tomorrow night or Saturday August 29th. For more information, please check out the web site at http://www.thegrandviewhop.com.

Thanks in advance for your help in making The Grandview Hop a success!
Steve Weaver
President, Grandview Hop Board
Co-owner, The Candle Lab

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
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Come on, how about dropping the word "hop" from the name of the event and start something new? We have too many districts trying to suck off the "hop" teet.

Posted 2 years ago #
thecandlelab
Columbus, OH
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I thought this might be the first issue raised. The reality is that our current board members, had we been around at the creation of this event, might not have gone with the word "Hop" in the name to avoid the obvious comparisons to the Gallery Hop.

This discussion did come up when we decided to drop the "Art" from the name of the event. We did that to address two issues. First, the people who came to the event expecting it to be an art-driven event were disappointed with the quantity and quality of the artists on display. Second, there were a number of people who shared with us that they hadn't yet been to one of our events because they weren't really artsy people. There are plenty of artists, but there are also plenty of things to do and see if art isn't really your thing.

We ended up sticking with "The Grandview Hop" because the term "Hop" is pretty universal and accurately captures what the event is about. There are shop hops and gallery hops and neighborhood hops in every major city in the country (there is even a scrapbooking store hop here: http://www.prleap.com/pr/100000) so we didn't feel like we were ripping off any one concept.

At the end of the day, whether its Gallery Hop or the Grandview Hop or Fourth Fridays in Westerville or 10 other similar events in central Ohio, its about the same thing - a group of merchants staying open late, outdoor vendors, live music and other programming designed to bring people into your neighborhood and showcase what you're community is all about. We're pretty excited about the mix of restaurants and retail stores along Grandview Avenue, and that's what this is all about.

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
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I appreciate what you're trying to do and support independent retailers, orgs and businesses. I'm probably in the minority of folks that really care, but for myself it's harder to consume something that is a blatant lift of another concept. It doesn't matter if it's the Microsoft Zune, McDowells from Coming to America or The Grandview Art Hop now rebranded as the Grandview Hop. It's kind of hard for some people to get behind that mindset. Especially in this case when it's at least partially supposed to be about creativity.

I'm not saying the Gallery Hop in the Short North is the first and only thing of it's kind, but at least locally the word "hop" occupies a certain undeniable head space. Thus, why not differentiate your district and event?

Not to mention if it's an event that brings together independent businesses, which are supposed to embody creativity I expect well.. Creativity in how the event is branded and communicated.

Posted 2 years ago #
catnfiddle
Giant Corncob District
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It IS a good time. The music outside of Stauf's is usually stellar. Definitely more low key than Gallery Hop but still a lovely excuse to enjoy the neighborhood, especially for those of us within walking distance.

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
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I bet it is fun, but the way the event is communicated wouldn't compel me to leave my neighborhood. Like I said, I'm probably in the minority.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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I'm heading to the German Village Art Crawl
http://www.gvartcrawl.com/

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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I think we should organize a "hop hop" sometime to hit up the city hop, campus hop, condo hop, city hop, Grandview hop and gallery hop. I have to be missing at least 5 right?

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
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Josh, now look what you've done. You got me all hopped up on hoppin around. Brings me back to my childhood. I was in a tv commercial for a Hippity Hop as a kid.

Posted 2 years ago #
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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Mercurius wrote >>
I'm heading to the German Village Art Crawl
http://www.gvartcrawl.com/

If you didn't buy your ticket in advance they're $25 the day of.

Posted 2 years ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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JonMyers wrote >>
I bet it is fun, but the way the event is communicated wouldn't compel me to leave my neighborhood. Like I said, I'm probably in the minority.

I'm with you here Jon, but I wouldn't characterize my support as "mainstream" either..

On the other hand I don't have any great ideas for a new name....

Branding is hard, lets go shopping...

Posted 2 years ago #
catnfiddle
Giant Corncob District
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Perhaps in a place like Grandview the term "stroll" would be more appropriate? "Saunter" is a little too unseemly.

Posted 2 years ago #
thecandlelab
Columbus, OH
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I will put "stroll" to a vote when the board convenes next week. I appreciate the suggestion!

I did a quick search on this site, and you guys even whacked the Newark Art Hop when they started, so I admire your consistency. We just printed up all new posters, business cards, flyers and sidewalk swinger signs, so we're going to have to soldier on with this name for now and revisit this issue at the end of the season.

Posted 2 years ago #
michaelcoyote
!seabus
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"The Grandview Stroll" I like that..

Wonder if you could close a section of Grandview Ave. for it.

Posted 2 years ago #
thecandlelab
Columbus, OH
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We have 2nd Avenue closed just off of Grandview Avenue to allow room for our main live music stage, a core gathering of our outdoor vendors, and a place for Segway Tours of Columbus to set up their area (where you can ride their Segways around the street).

See - its already cooler than you thought, isn't it?

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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I agree with stroll by the way. It's a perfect word choice for Grandview.

Posted 2 years ago #
roy
Downtown
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Am I the only CUer who's mad the Grandview Heights planning board refused to allow Chris Sims' Pure Skin Tattoo shop to locate on their precious street? I didn't hear any of the Grandview Avenue businesses defend him except Stauf's so I'm boycotting. I'm also recruiting him to nearby Columbus so we can keep the income taxes from his staff of five FT artists. GH whines about losing income taxes, then they kick small biz to the curb. It's well known the GH city council president has one of those frat guy tribal bicep tattoos.

Grandview Heights says no to tattoo-parlor owner
Man offended by concerns about clients
Saturday, July 18, 2009 3:04 AM
By Dean Narciso

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Had he known that the Grandview Heights planning commission would reject his permit request to operate in the city, the owner of Pure Skin Tattoos would have drafted a lengthier speech.

Like what it's like to be, he says, discriminated against and how some of the city's residents are hypocritical.

Instead, Chris Sims told the five commission members Wednesday night that his quality tattoo studio is similar to a hair stylist, masseuse or dentist in its ability to improve self-esteem.

"Our mission is to supply services and products that enhance our client's physical appearance and mental relaxation," Sims said.

Grandview Heights has never had a tattoo shop and some residents question whether that should change now, especially along Grandview Avenue, the city's commercial corridor.

After a local dentist expressed concerns about the clientele drawn to some tattoo shops, the commission voted 3-2 to deny the permit.

Patrik Bowman, the city's development director, said the commission's decision was based on a narrow legal opinion: Tattoo parlors are not mentioned anywhere in the city code and are not similar in character and scale to other businesses nearby.

"In no way did I hear either staff or planning commission say that tattoo parlors were unacceptable anywhere within the community," Bowman said.

Still, Sims was shocked after the commission's vote.

He was so confident that he'd fit into Grandview Heights that he recently dropped his lease on his Northwest Boulevard shop.

Now, he's moved his supplies and artwork into his mother's West Side garage.

Sims could still apply for a zoning variance or appeal the decision to Franklin County Common Pleas Court. But he's leery of the expense, delays and bother.

Body art should not be feared or disparaged, said Sims, 36, a former Franklin County deputy sheriff.

"Whether you have artwork on your wall or on your body, it's just another canvas type," he said after the vote.

"It's flattering to me that (customers) love my artwork so much that they want to wear it for the rest of their lives."

Around the corner from the vacated interior design studio at 1212 Grandview Ave. that Sims wanted to move into, 20-year resident Sue Barte was surprised. "A tattoo parlor in Grandview?

"Does it fit Grandview? No.

"Does it bother me? No.

"If they want to give it a try, they should be allowed," Barte said, noting the area's high business turnover rate.

As for the dentist's concerns about the shop: "I have clients that go to him for their dental work," Sims said.

"He wants their money, but he doesn't want a shop in town that caters to them."

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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So you are boycotting Grandview? Like the whole city?

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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Tigertree wrote >>
I agree with stroll by the way. It's a perfect word choice for Grandview.

I prefer to mosey, but that's just me

Posted 2 years ago #
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
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Mosey needs to go somewhere more ironic, like Clintonville.

Posted 2 years ago #