Friday, December 22 2017

Does a Monday Christmas feel weird to anyone else, or is it just me?

The nice thing is that we get the weekend before for convenient memory making running right into the big day.

There are all kinds of things happening around the city this weekend to celebrate the holidays, from events great to do with children, to fun things to do with a significant other. And if you find yourself flying solo this year, there's even some great ideas for you too.

Navigator full story: Navigator Weekender: 2017 Christmas Weekend Edition

Friday Weather 🌡56, chance of rain off and on all day. 🌧

Navigator Originals ✏️Women’s Soccer Is Taking Over Mapfre Stadium In MarchThe US Women's Team will be playing at Mapfre Stadium in March, taking on Germany. England will play France immediately prior, making for a pretty great day of soccer.Columbus City Schools Will Now Offer Free, On Demand Short StoriesThis is going to sound a little sci-fi, but bear with me. Columbus City Schools are going to install kiosks around the city that will print out short stories for kids, or adults, on demand. The kiosks will even be able to coordinate with events happening around town, meaning we should see some stories about getting swole during the Arnold. Presumably. Hit the link to see a picture of what the kiosk will look like and to find out more.

Around Town 🏘This is from an Alabama blog, but has relevance to us here in Columbus. One unexpected place that's going to take a hit from the GOP tax plan: college athletics. Most elite football programs require donations to the athletic program for a fan to be eligible to buy season tickets. Those donations were deductible - up to 80% - previously. But no longer. This is how Ohio State handles their season tickets. Prospective purchasers have to join the "Buckeye Club". The Buckeye Club website prominently discusses the tax benefits of donating to the Buckeye Club. [Roll Bama Roll]Ohio State will also be hit by the new bill on the head coaching front. The new tax bill targets non-profit employees that earn $1 million+ a year, which would obviously include Urban Meyer as well as men's basketball coach Chris Holtmann and women's basketball coach Kevin McGuff. These contracts will now cost Ohio State millions more than originally planned. [USA Today]This father/son duo taking portraits all around Columbus with the son in a NASA costume is pretty adorable. [614Now]There seems to be a very good argument that the state of Ohio could use eminent domain to seize the Columbus Crew. It would be unprecedented, but the law seems clear. A definite last ditch effort strategy that may never see real world application, but hopefully all involved Columbus and Ohio parties are aware of this argument. [SB Nation]

Coming Up 📆🎄 12/22-24: The Nutcracker at Ohio Theatre🎄 12/22-24: Mr. Scrooge at Columbus Children's Theatre🏒 12/23: Blue Jackets vs. Philadelphia Flyers🐷 12/23: Muppet Mayhem Band🎄 12/23: Nina West Christmas Pageant at Gateway Film Center🎄 12/23: Wonderful Christmastime with Lesley James

Longread Continuing our rundown of the best things we read in 2017.She lived with us for 56 years. She raised me and my siblings without pay. I was 11, a typical American kid, before I realized who she was.The Atlantic: My Family’s Slave

Something to say? Hit reply - we read it all.Everyone have a great holiday weekend! We'll be back in the middle of next week ready to talk New Year's and 2018.- James