2021 Virtual Short North Gala

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2021 Virtual Short North Gala

Enjoy the Short North Arts District from Home

Support Local Businesses

Contribute to the Art + Soul of Columbus

READY. SET. BID!

Check out the fantastic packages featuring unique gifts and experiences from local Short North Arts District businesses. Feel good about treating yourself, as the Silent Auction supports the Short North Alliance, PLUS a portion of silent auction proceeds benefit partnering businesses.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Experience the Short North Gala from home! Treat yourself with a ticket, or purchase a “Table” for friends, family and guests, including:

A Virtual Event Program recognizing 7 outstanding honorees who have made an impact in the Short North Arts District [All Tickets]
A Taste of Short North Appetizer & Dessert Box from various Short North Arts District Businesses [VIP & General Admission Tickets]
A Taste of Short North Beverage Box, including a cocktail kit from Middle West Spirits, beer and Kitty Paw from Seventh Son, and complementary virtual mixology session and tasting during the event [VIP & General Admission Tickets]
Dinner Delivery from Cameron Mitchell Restaurants [VIP Tickets Only]
Access to the Online Silent Auction, featuring unique experiences with favorite Short North businesses [All Ticket Types]

WHEN:

General Admission Appetizer & Dessert Box and Beverage Box pickup, and VIP Delivery will take place on Sunday, April 18.
Watch the 2021 Short North Gala Virtual Program online, on your time, anytime between April 18 and 25.

*VIP Delivery is only available within the Designated Delivery Zone (inside of the 270 interstate). If outside of the delivery zone, guests will conveniently be able to pick items up from one central location.

WHY:

The 2021 Virtual Short North Gala helps to Lift Up the Short North Arts District, as we honor those who have done the same. This year, we’re honoring an incredible set of honorees who have contributed to our local community in so many ways.

The Short North Gala also supports the Short North Alliance, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves the business and property owners of the Short North Arts District. After the challenging year we’ve all gone through, our organization needs your support more than ever — but we aren’t the only ones.

This year, a portion of the proceeds from General Admission and VIP Tickets and Tables will go directly to Short North Arts District partnering businesses, in order to lift up our local business community as well.

2021 HONOREES:

2021 honoree categories include: Unsung Hero, Business Beacon, Architectural Star, Community Partner, and for the first time ever, The Sanborn D. Wood Award For Leadership & Service. Honorees in all categories are nominated by the community. This year’s honorees and the individual award categories are described below. You can find more details and ticketing information here for the 2021 Event.

COMMUNITY PARTNER

Honorees in this category have deep collaborations with the Short North Arts District resulting in significant advancement of the District’s quality of life.

Dress for Success

Since opening its doors in the Short North Arts District in 2007, Dress For Success has served thousands of women to help them achieve their potential in the workplace and community. Their services not only equip women with the clothing and style to enter the job market with confidence, they also provide clients with the intangible assets needed for a successful profession, including interview coaching, career skills development, mentoring, and more. The Columbus chapter, which sits on the corner of 5th Avenue and High Street, welcomes women from throughout the Columbus community, many of whom ultimately go on to start their careers in the Short North Arts District.

Service! Relief Kitchen

Started by Bake Me Happy co-owner Letha Pugh with local Short North restaurant-industry veterans Sangeeta Lakhani, Matthew Heaggans, and Reed Woogerd, Service! Relief Kitchen had the brainpower behind it to be a boomingly successful new restaurant — but that wasn’t the plan. Developed in the early-stages of the pandemic, these industry pros united to create a nonprofit to assist with financial insecurity among restaurant industry workers and their families. By way of distributing over 10,000 free meals, and now a new grant program for individuals, Service! Relief Kitchen is providing much-needed aid to so many in the service industry in the Short North Arts District and beyond.

BUSINESS BEACON

Honorees in this category have served as catalysts to bring a broad range of visitors to the District, and have inspired others to invest in and nurture the Short North Arts District.

Brady Konya & Ryan Lang, Middle West Spirits

Thirteen years ago, when two marketing and design professionals moved from Seattle and Charlotte to Columbus to work at a major retailer headquartered here, their spirited spouses brought with them a vision that Columbus could become an epicenter for a midwestern distillery. Building upon family bootlegging roots and an obsessive commitment to quality and passion, Ryan Lang and Brady Konya founded Middle West Spirits – the first distillery of its kind in Columbus. Over time, they have not only transformed the space they occupy in the Short North Arts District into a world-class restaurant and distillery, they have been leaders in the regulatory transformation of Ohio’s liquor industry, making it more accessible for entrepreneurs, and have shown steadfast support to their community.

Dionte’ Johnson, Sole Classics

Drive through the Short North Arts District in the morning and you’ll likely see a line outside of Sole Classics that extends far down High Street, much like you would outside of a concert hall. But these aren’t fans waiting for their favorite band — they’re sneakerheads waiting for the latest shoe release. But since its inception in 2006, local customers have known that it’s much more than just a sneaker shop. Sole Classics is a center of empowerment and creativity for the community. From creating exclusive collaborations and incubating local fashion brands, to offering hopeful messages on their storefront windows, which spawned an organic movement around social change that spread throughout the Short North Arts District and across the city this past summer – Sole Classics walks the talk in the coolest shoes around.

UNSUNG HERO

Honorees in this category are selected for the contributions they have made over the years to the artistry, diversity, community, and spirit of the Short North Arts District. This year’s unsung heroes are:

Josh & Niki Quinn, Tigertree

When Josh and Niki Quinn opened Tigertree in a little space off of Brickle Street in the Short North Arts District in 2007, they were a couple of Los Angeles fashion industry expats without any long term plans to stay in Columbus. Tigertree grew into an iconic shop for the District, not only serving as one of the biggest destination stores in all of Columbus, but a treasured brand among locals and visitors alike. The Quinns were tireless advocates for small businesses whose ideas and voices made a difference in the lives of countless small businesses during their tenure in the Short North Arts District.

ARCHITECTURAL STAR

Honorees in this category have contributed substantially to the architectural quality, preservation, or design of the Short North Arts District.

Stonewall Columbus

In late 2019, leaders of Stonewall Columbus renovated and expanded their existing buildings, unveiling an incredible new community center and facility to serve the Columbus LBGTQIA+ community after a substantial and collaborative capital campaign. Designed by architecture firm Behal Sampson Dietz and constructed by Elford, the new Center on High features high quality facilities for needed social services, stunningly preserved historic spaces for community gatherings, and a gallery which showcases the work of LGBTQIA+ artists in partnership with Short North Arts District and other local galleries and arts groups.

SANBORN D. WOOD AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP & SERVICE

Honorees in the category have made lasting contributions to the Short North Arts District through their life and service.

Joel Pizzuti

The Sanborn D. Wood Award for Leadership & Service makes its debut in 2021. Awarded to a former board member of the Short North Alliance or Short North Special Improvement District who has demonstrated exemplary leadership as steward of the Short North Arts District, the award is named for the godfather of the modern Short North Arts District, Sanborn D. Wood (known affectionately as Sandy).

The award’s inaugural recipient is Joel Pizzuti, who was the founding Short North Alliance Board President and is President of The Pizzuti Companies. Devoting nearly eight years of service to the Short North Alliance and the community, Joel embodies Sandy’s signature leadership qualities as a steward of the community: diplomacy, integrity, visionary thinking, and an unwavering commitment to supporting the distinct culture of the Short North Arts District.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU

We’re very excited to be partnering with Middle West Spirits and Seventh Son Brewing Co. to bring you the 2021 Virtual Short North Gala Beverage Box! Learn more about these Short North spirits during the virtual event with a mixology session from Middle West Spirits, and tasting from Seventh Son Brewing Co.

Middle West Spirits

General Admission ticket holders will receive:

Thai Basil Mule: OYO Vodka, Thai Basil Simple Syrup, Fresh Lime, Fevertree Ginger Beer, Dehydrated Lime Garnish

VIP ticket holders will receive:

Thai Basil Mule
Bourbon Smash Mule: Middle West Spirits Michelone Reserve Bourbon, Basil, Simple Syrup, Fresh Lemon, Fevertree Ginger Beer, Dehydrated Lemon Garnish

Seventh Son Brewing Co.

General Admission ticket holders & VIP ticket holders will both receive:

Humulus Nimbus, Pale Ale: A pale golden ale that is both super crisp and super hop forward with a refreshing mouthfeel and a summer friendly 6% abv. Mosaic & simcoe hops lend tart blueberry and fragrant pine to a pleasingly bitter dandelion finish.
Lime Guava Kitty Paw: 4.2% ABV Hard Seltzer that contains only real fruit, water, and yeast.

Cameron Mitchell Restaurants

VIP individual and “table” tickets include dinner delivery from Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, plus a complementary video guiding guests how to put the finishing touches on their dish at home.

Dinner includes mushroom risotto with asparagus, lemon, and your choice of: