The Magic of Pecha Kucha

Happy Thursday everyone!

Sorry for the lack of a post last week. The life of a college student necessitates studying and taking midterms quite often, especially in Ohio State’s quarter system.  Unfortunately, the quarter system here is facing its demise this summer and OSU is switching to semesters in the fall.  I digress.

With the (relatively) warm weather we have had in Columbus lately, I am getting the spring bug early and along with listening to mass quantities of 90s music, I’m developing an insatiable thirst for pretty much any art form. I have no idea why it happens with the return of less-frigid temperatures, but so is life.

Along with the monthly Gallery Hop event in the Short North (first Saturday of every month – it’s basically the bomb.com), one of my favorite happenings in Columbus is Pecha Kucha. After learning how to pronounce one of the coolest names in the history of ever, you can pick up on the goings on in Columbus through the presentations.

Pecha Kucha mini-FAQ lives at the bottom of this post.

In short, the way it works is presenters organize a slideshow of 20 images and give themselves 20 seconds to comment on each one. The results can vary, but some turn out as point-blank presentations while others weave the photos into a captivating story. I personally enjoy the humor-laced shows the most, but each one has its value.

One of my favorite aspects of Pecha Kucha is the diverse group of people you find at the event. You get your artsy type, but the suit-and-tie people of downtown Columbus come along, as well as a handful of college students and everyone between 3 and 90 years old (granted, I’ve never seen a 90 year old there, but I would bet it has happened). It makes for a great place to people watch, whether it’s before it starts or between presentations.

Or you could network. I prefer people watching.

Pecha Kucha Columbus started in February of 2007, four years after the vision was created in Tokyo in 2003. That makes this year the fifth anniversary of the event and the celebration last Thursday did not fall short of awesome.

Along with a super group of presenters (including one of the coolest I’ve seen in architectural photographer Brad Feinknopf), the bash featured musician Enrique Infante and the band Coal Fired Bicycle along with a table of the most fantastically decorated mini cupcakes. The top it off, it was hosted by the Columbus Museum of Art.

And the CMA is totally rad.

The remaining presenters included Oron Benary with Simply Living, OSU medical student Danny Ash, Dwight Heckelman of Groove U, Jess Matthews from Consider Biking, Steve Shapiro with The Educational Council, Mark Farmer from Team 614, and Scott Vayo of BPM Productions.

Pecha Kucha has a solid list of frequently asked questions (conveniently, 20 questions) on its website, www.pecha-kucha.org, but I’ve picked a few that really sum it up well.

01. What is PechaKucha 20x20?

PechaKucha 20x20 is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images forward automatically and you talk along to the images.

02. Who invented the format?

The presentation format was devised by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham architecture. The first PechaKucha Night was held in Tokyo in their gallery, lounge, bar, club, creative kitchen SuperDeluxe in February 2003 Klein Dytham architecture still organize and support the global PechaKucha Night network and organise PechaKucha Night Tokyo.

03. Why invent this format?

Because architects talk too much! Give a microphone and some images to an architect - or most creative people for that matter - and they'll go on forever! Give powerpoint to anyone else and they have the same problem.

08. What can people present?

The key to a great presentation is to present something you love. Most people use PechaKucha Night to present their latest creative projects or work. Some people share their passion and show their prized collections of Nana Mouskuri records, other share photos of their latest site visit to a construction site or their recent holiday snaps. We always recommend people go and see a PechaKucha Night before they apply to present to get a good feel of what it is all about.

18. Was PechaKucha the first format like this?

That's a good question. We have all heard of elevator pitches, a presentation so short you could pitch it to someone in an elevator, well 20 seconds x 20 is a bit longer than that, but the idea is the same short concise presentations. As far as we know PechaKucha was the first to put a limit on the number or images, number of seconds - and the all important auto forward. No 'next slide' or 'go back one please' at PechaKucha Nights. There have been several, rather sly - and not so sly imitators including Talk20 and Ignite - but PechaKucha was there first, seven years ago!

You can keep track of the next Pecha Kucha Columbus event by following the group on Twitter @PechaKuchaCMH or on Facebook at Facebook.com/pkcolumbus. Hopefully Columbus can enjoy five more years of Pecha Kucha. Any kind of celebration of the public forum is a valuable commodity in my eyes.

Hopefully I’ll see you at the next event!

Catch you next month Columbus,

Brian

IF YOU CAN DO ONE THING THIS WEEKEND, DO THIS:

Well, breathing is encouraged this weekend, but also check out the Ohio X Southwest event at Ace of Cups Saturday night. The show starts at 7 p.m. and features some of the very best musical talent in Columbus.

The event calendar on the SBB page here has more info on the event and a bunch of others coming up.

How are you going to spend the last weekend of February?

Yoga on Awesome

Howdy world,

Today I present to you a delicious blend of assorted firsts. My first blog, my first yoga experience and the first in a new, revolutionary approach to the prestigious institution that is BeansTalk.

My name is Brian and I’ll be your pilot today.

The idea of turning BeansTalk into an ongoing discussion about the awesome local businesses in Columbus has been rolling around in my head for a while. It wasn’t until I received an email from Wolf that read: “would you be interested in doing yoga next week?”

“Ha, no.”

Admittedly, that was my first thought. Also admittedly, I was an idiot.

But moments later my fate was sealed and I was scheduled for a beginner Hatha class at Yoga On High. Scheduling on the website is simple and has options to sort by classes, instructors and class level (read: super easy).

As I told my legs to keep moving while I walked into the studio just hours before the Super Bowl (yoga: pregaming at its finest), the gentle atmosphere of the place smacked me in the face. Suddenly, everyone in the building was a good friend and I felt like I was at home. I still have no idea how they accomplished this, but it was a welcomed feeling.

I received my rental mat, a handy student etiquette pamphlet (suggestion No. 5: refrain from chewing gum in class… hey, I never said I was a model student) and a schedule for the first quarter of the year.

More like Yoga on Awesome

Per custom, I left my shoes and my preconceptions behind in the lobby as I walked in the classroom and turned off my phone (gasp!). My teacher for the day, Marianne, then led our class of six through a seated pose while dishing some wisdom on the natural curves of the spine, which would be a recurring topic throughout the session.

Fast-forward an hour and we’ve made it through a handful of poses before entering Savasana, a resting pose. As we’re led back to a full state of awareness, my mind can’t help but wonder when I’ll be able to come back.

Yoga on High made me a believer (24-hour symptoms read more like addict than believer, I’d say).

If it’s possible for me, it can happen to anyone. And everyone should give it a shot. Yoga on High offers a range of class levels, sure to challenge anyone at a comfortable level. There are also free classes offered at various times if you’re not sure what to expect by enrolling for a series of classes. In short, there is something for everyone at Yoga on High. They also do an excellent job with information and interaction on Facebook.

So get out there and free your mind and body.

I hope I represented my fellow SBBers well and didn’t make a goof of myself. For now I’ll be working on organizing “SBB Does Yoga” day.

Until next time Columbus,

Brian

YOGA ON HIGH

Best feature/aspect: The knowledgeable, caring, all-around wonderful people

Location: 1081 N. High St. Columbus, Ohio

SBB Discount: 10% off all bookstore & boutique items; buy one class pass and get the 2nd 10% off

More info here.

HAVE A THOUGHT? SHARE IT!

I look forward to hearing what others think as much as I look forward to writing down my own thoughts. If you have a suggestion of a local business in Columbus to visit, let me know!

Comments are encouraged. Criticism is comedy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A fun-size introduction of who I am: I like sports, Columbus, penguins, playing guitar and writing. And for the king size version: hockey is my favorite sport in the world (curling runs a close second), I grew up in southern Alabama, I’m a senior at Ohio State and I also double as an assistant in the Ohio State Athletics Communications office. My favorite movie is the second in the Mighty Ducks trilogy. You can find me on Twitter @elpadreoso.

Back to BeansTalk

Allow me to introduce myself I’m Elli, a new intern at The SBB.  I will be happily following up where Liz left off.  Most recently, the wonderfully creative guys at The SBB have found the most adorable mascot, Samson Bengal.  You can friend him on Facebook at Samson Bengal Shops Local.  

We have also been working hard this summer getting the SBB Card to Columbus consumers at all kinds of local events.  You can find us, and the card at the Grandview, Westerville and Worthington farmer’s market every week.  I suggest making your own homemade salsa from the fresh local produce.  

After you hit up your nearest farmer’s market on Saturday, head over to the Weinland Park Community Festival or go support the Ohio Roller Girls as they face off against the Demolition City Roller Derby.  I think our girls could show them a few things about demolition, when we demolish them.  Okay, bad play on words but definitely get out of the house this weekend, old man winter is just around the corner.  Speaking of hibernation, on Sunday make sure to stop out at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and Commit to be Fit, or at least commit to work off all the delicious Jenni’s ice cream we’ve been munching on all summer.

Check back soon to see what you can expect to see at the upcoming Independent’s Day.  It’s going to be amazing!

Happy Shopping,

-Elli

Bittersweet

Ahhh, the last days of my internship here at the SBB. Does anyone even read this thing? Well, regardless, I've enjoyed writing it.

Interning here was been a terrific experience, professionally and otherwise. I am still in disbelief at how exponentially this company grows every week, living up to its name (ya know, beanstalk...). Working here has introduced me to so many amazing, secret parts of Columbus I would have never discovered as a student at Ohio State. Really, it's a shame. Columbus is a GEM. That is not a TLA, it's literally a gem. All shiny and stuff. I thought for sure that future employers and other important people would glance over my resume as an English major, marking it with their big rubber stamp that says "Totally Unemployable," but these guys took a chance on me and I hope I done 'em proud. I learned a lot about the business world, a place that scared me before. Well, actually it still does but at least the SBB has given some tools to conquer it as the cutthroat business woman I could be one day!!

Apart from that, these guys are cool. No wonder they've created such a successful business with those stunning personalities and business savoir faire. I hope every professional situation I'm ever in resembles their casual approach...and involves happy hour drinks at several cool local bars.

As for me, besides being all torn up inside about my departure, I'll still be around supporting the guys and Columbus, my new home. I'll be working with Columbus Alive, trying to promote their limitless entertainment information (and the SBB card).

I bid thee farewell.

Yours,

Liz

(ps. I need a job.)

Unnamed post

Winter is setting in and you know what that means, right? Well, it means hot drinks and cute mittens...of which, I currently have neither. Must find cute drinks and hot mittens. You know what I mean.

Attended a seriously cool event last weekend at Junctionview. Did you guys know this place existed? Well, it was news to me and about the best news I've gotten since I heard about that new species of octopus we found. It's a bunch of artists' studios, so there was a lot of unique art, interesting people, and great things to buy with the money I don't have. There'll be more like it, so keep an eye out.

As for my holiday...well, it went as expected. Rode the 4-wheeler with my lil' bro, drank cheap beer, listened to my family rant about Obama being a socialist/terrorist. Good times. I also said a moving goodbye to the waistline I once had.

As my internship comes to a close here, I'm expecting some crazy nights out with the guys. I'll be sure to report on any embarrassing behavior, don't worry.

RACHEL, my partner in crime

I feel awful. In my last blog, I forgot to mention my fellow intern, my partner in crime, the peanut butter to my jelly: Rachel.

To make up for my embarrassing lack of consideration, I'd like you to get know Rachel a little better, so I'm forcing her to stop whatever important thing she's doing to indulge me in an interview. Finally, Rachel, the intern, will be demystified to the public. You're welcome, world.

Where were you born? -- "Pittsburgh."

What is your favorite movie of all time? -- [chooses not to answer this question...hmm....]

How do you feel about the Quidditch? -- "Incredibly jealous. I mean, I wanna play Quidditch in real life!"

If you could have one super power, what would it be and why? -- "Liz! I'm trying to work! What are you writing?"

What's your favorite thing? -- "Like of all time? Liz! Your questions are hard!"

And there you have it, neighbors: everything you've ever wanted to know. She has brains, she has beauty, she's an SBB intern...she's awesome.

The work never ends

After a refreshing weekend breathing mountain oxygen, I come back to complete chaos! That's what happens when the female influence leaves the other SBB counterparts to their own devices.

Kidding, guys! Things weren't in utter disarray but Wolf, Charles, and Alex are working their little tails off trying to get this Big Deal to come together. Happily for me, they are doing it gracefully and not using the poor interns as punching bags. I think Wolf has upped his pacing distance from the average 2 miles/day to 5 miles/day. We are now expecting the first Big Deal on Friday so hang in there! We're a-comin'! And we're still super jazzed. Oh, and still tell your friends, and still sign up here: www.bigdealcolumbus.com.

In more important news, there is a very badass event taking place this weekend. Imagine a place where there are rowdy gals, aggressively roller-skating at/with one another. Then, take this dream, inject it with MLB-approved steroids, blare thrash metal music, put a Santa hat on it, and then dress it in a Halloween costume. That's one high-powered, awesome dream, no? Well, guess what. That's right, folks; as always, the SBB is making your dreams come true! (hey, that gives me an idea for a song...it'll be perfect for a vacation montage...I'll get Hall & Oates to do it.)

This weekend, we'll all be heading out to the "Skatemare Before Christmas" with the Ohio Roller Girls. If you have not seen these girls, trust me, you must...and this is a great opportunity to do it. Get your tickets here and do it now because the event is likely to sell out: www.ohiorollergirls.com.

And as for the most important news of all: I just got a Blackberry. I officially no longer need to make personal human contact. Yes.

In the meantime, good luck trying to get "You Make My Dreams Come True" out of your head. Just try singing "It's a Small World After All" if you're desperate.

Until Thursday,

Au revoir!