As we all wait for the HyettPalma strategic planning meeting on Monday March 10th there is a new business for us to visit. It is the new art gallery on Michigan avenue. David and Leslie Austin have provided us with another store that seems to promote almost everything folks were saying at the Downtown Blueprint session a couple of weeks ago. Of course, your actions need to speak louder than your words — You need to shop and support businesses you want to see in the community.
People asked for more arts to be represented in Downtown — We now have ‘What Is That’ (website coming soon) an art gallery in downtown. This isn’t your ordinary art gallery it is Ypsi style with an eclectic mix of art from a lot of artists on a variety of media and reasonable prices. I strolled through with a couple of friends last Saturday (after a visit to Dalat and the Rocket) and found many affordable pieces I’d love to have and intend to buy. What I couldn’t afford but suggest you visit the gallery to see are the furniture pieces which seemed world class and reasonably priced.
People asked for art classes downtown — Guess what? ‘What is That’ is going to have pottery classes on site. I don’t know how they can do it without a $600,000 elevator but we’ll see how they manage.
People wanted downtown businesses open later — Hours: Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday, 1-7 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; closed Monday; also open by appointment. I think these are fair hours. I certainly noticed a lack of open stores last Saturday at 2pm — This is something that needs to change to draw people downtown.
Check out the A2 News article here but visit the store to see for yourself.
Don’t forgot we also have the Dreamland Theater for Ypsi-Style performances and the Riverside Arts Center which also houses a gallery.
Hopefully all of these places will be open with events during the weekly music series on Washington Street during the summer.
