We wanted to learn a bit more about our friend David Ball, Director of Communications at Capital University Law School. After hours of intense interrogation, this is what we found out:

What’s your favorite restaurant?

Amul India on Sawmill Road is, hands down, my favorite local restaurant. It’s a wonderfully unassuming place in a (largely empty) strip mall north of Hard Road, and as a result there’s never really a crowd. You wouldn’t guess by looking at it from the outside, but in my mind the food is the best Indian cuisine in Central Ohio. The epitome of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Certainly a hidden gem. In particular, try the chicken vindaloo – if you can stand the heat. For the fainter of heart, the chicken tikka is, in my opinion, the best in town. And, of course, get a double order of naan.

What’s your favorite movie?

I’ve got to go old school and say “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I watch it every time it’s on TV. Frank Capra directs, Jimmy Stewart stars and – of course – Donna Reed is beautiful as Mary. Lionel Barrymore stars is the smarmiest villain ever. You have Bert and Ernie (the cop and the cabbie). And, of course, you have Zuzu’s petals. What’s not to love? Is it sappy? Of course – it’s Capra, after all. Is it life-affirming? Absolutely. Can I repeat half the lines of dialogue by heart? Does the phrase, “That does it. Out you two pixies go, through the door or out the window!” mean anything to you?

What’s your favorite book?

“Green Eggs and Ham.” It’s the book that taught me to never take “no” for an answer.

What’s your favorite vacation spot?

Any place where the sand-to-ocean ratio is just right and you know the seafood is fresh because you can see the boats delivering it to the dock.

What’s your favorite band?

Lyle Lovett – with and without his Large Band. Funny, poignant, always surprising, always different.

We were thrilled to see an article in this week’s Business First featuring our friends at SEA Ltd. SEA is a forensic engineering company located in Worthington and  is a recognized worldwide leader in forensic analysis, testing, and investigation.

Looking for something different to do tonight? Head on over to Brother’s Drake meadery in Weinland Park (just a block from the Short North) for a glass of their fabulous honey wine or try the full flight tasting of all 6 of their current offerings.  Never heard of mead? You’re missing out! Mead is wine made from honey and its origins go back to the time of the Pharoahs and Emporers of China. Brothers Drake uses only the best pure honey and the finest locally sourced ingredients. They feature several offerings ranging from dry to sweet, so there’s something sure to please every palate! “It’s honey. It’s alcohol. Together, it’s delicious!” Check them out online for more information and be sure to stop in this weekend for a tasting, you’ll be hooked just like we are!

Looking for the best lunch spot in Columbus? We’ve found it! IDC loves El Arepazo’s fresh, healthy and inexpensive authentic Latin fare. We recommend the Caribbean Crab Cakes topped with their famous Cilantro Sauce – they’re to die for! You can find this lunch-only gem hidden downtown in the Pearl District, but make sure to get there for lunch early because it doesn’t take long for the line to spill out the front door. Check out their menu, give them a try and let us know what you think.

We wanted to find out a little bit more about our friend Laura Koprowski, Public & Government Affairs Director at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC). Here’s what we found out:

What’s your favorite restaurant?

I think the Columbus area has a fantastic restaurant scene! It’s tough for me to pick just one favorite restaurant, so I’ll give my top 3: First, Figlio’s on Grandview Avenue – the pasta and ingredients are always so fresh and unique. Second, North Star in the Short North – I could eat their vegetarian burger 5 times a week! And going there for breakfast on the weekends is such a special treat. Third, Lindey’s in German Village – it’s a Columbus restaurant icon and deserves to be! Atmosphere and food are both pure pleasure!

What’s your favorite movie?

Sideways. My husband and I love wine and so this movie that pokes fun at the California wine culture is a great watch anytime.

What’s your favorite book?

I’ve just read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and it is my new favorite book. The book will take you on a fun and insightful journey.

What’s your favorite vacation spot?

I have two favorite spots – Kure Beach in North Carolina and Hocking Hills, Ohio.  Kure Beach is a great family destination and less crowded than the Outerbanks. It’s also located near Wilmington, North Carolina which is like a southern version of the Short North – eclectic restaurants, shopping and people. Hocking Hills is a hidden jewel in Ohio. It is also an oasis for my family to disconnect from cell phones, video games and TV. We keep finding new and more amazing parks and places to hike like Rock House.

What’s your favorite band?

I love a lot of different music, but my heart will always belong to the 10,000 Maniacs. I saw Natalie Merchant and the band in concert years ago as a student at Ohio University in Athens. I still remember it as the most amazing performance ever!

Do you know about the Rush Creek Village community in Worthington? It’s the country’s most intact (and mostly undiscovered) example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture philosophy. Just one more thing that makes Columbus such a cool place to live. Click on the photo to go to the City of Worthington’s Rush Creek Village website.

We love this local artist and her whimsical work.

Check out Aline Yamada’s blog and Etsy shop.

Michael Bierut is a graphic designer, design critic and educator. Since 1990 he has been a partner in the New York office of Pentagram.

A Quick History of Helvetica

Helvetica was developed in 1957 by Max Miedinger with Eduard Hoffmann at the Haas’sche Schriftgiesserei (Haas type foundry) of Münchenstein, Switzerland. Haas set out to design a new sans-serif typeface that could compete with the successful Akzidenz-Grotesk in the Swiss market. The aim of the new design was to create a neutral typeface that had great clarity, no intrinsic meaning in its form, and could be used on a wide variety of signage.

It was initially suggested that the type be called ‘Helvetia’ which is the original Latin name for Switzerland. This was ignored by Eduard Hoffmann as he decided it wouldn’t be appropriate to name a type after a country. He then decided on ‘Helvetica’ as this meant ‘Swiss’ as opposed to ‘Switzerland’.

In 2007, director Gary Hustwit released a documentary, Helvetica, to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the typeface. In the film, graphic designer Wim Crouwel said, “Helvetica was a real step from the 19th century typeface… We were impressed by that because it was more neutral, and neutralism was a word that we loved. It should be neutral. It shouldn’t have a meaning in itself. The meaning is in the content of the text and not in the typeface.”

From April 2007 to March 2008, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City displayed an exhibit called “50 Years of Helvetica”, which celebrated the many uses of the typeface.

Source: Helvetica. (2011, January 16). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16:41, January 18, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Helvetica&oldid=408216459

Midcentury modern is a relatively new term used when describing anything built, designed or made between World War II and the early 1960’s. Charles and Ray Eames are synonymous with this term and their influence can be felt in a lot of contemporary furniture today. The married couple created pieces of furniture that were beautiful yet simple, with very clean lines and neutral materials but with pops of playful color. A favorite is their “Hang It All”, a hanging coat rack that has a lot to say.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

We love him.

What can you say? Maybe the coolest guy ever. His hard work and dedication to ending racism can still be seen and felt in the United States today. Are you off work next Monday in his honor? Everyone should be.

Couple interesting facts:

Born Michael Luther King, Jr. in Atlanta, he later changed his first name to Martin.

At the age of thirty-five, he was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.