Wednesday, March 14 2018

Hello Wednesday. It's James.

Recently, I did some self evaluation and decided the car I was driving was complete overkill for the life I lead, which typically only sees me driving 100 miles or less per week. I ended up buying a used Nissan Leaf (partially inspired

by this article

), and it's been a dream. No gas station visits in 2018, simple to charge, and no range anxiety since I have it paired with a gasoline car that my wife primarily drives. 

All of this is to say that I think people will be more and more excited about electric cars the more they are exposed to them (especially non-Teslas, since I have a belief that people see those as more aspirational than realistic). In Columbus, electric car exposure will be getting a boost starting in June. Smart Columbus is creating a showcase space on the Scioto Mile where people will be able to test drive a variety of electric cars, as well as see what Smart Columbus is working on. I think you'll probably recognize the distinctive building this is going into - check the link for a preview of what this will all look like and more details.

Navigator full story: Electric Vehicle Test Drive Center and Smart Columbus Showcase Coming To Scioto Mile

Wednesday Weather 🌡36 and partly sunny. ⛅️

Navigator Originals ✏️5 Columbus Makerspace Studios For Developing ArtisansMakerspace studios are more accessible and interesting than you might realize - here's a variety in Columbus that might be able to get you into a class, a new hobby, or possibly even starting a new business.Cirque Du Soleil Will Be Swinging From The Chandeliers At The Schott This AprilComing to the Schott next month, and 100% worth it. If you've been to a Cirque, then you know.Legacy Smokehouse Will Bring Texas BBQ To Hilliard This SummerLegacy Smokehouse had a nice run as a pop up near Merion and German Village last year, and now they are really ramping things up, with a space in the new Short North Food Hall, and now a newly announced restaurant in Hilliard.

Around Town 🏘You probably know IKEA has an interesting food court, but did you know they serve an extremely reasonably priced breakfast? Breakfast With Nick recently visited and has the details. [Breakfast With Nick]In more electric vehicle news, a COTA pilot program will see electric buses on Columbus roads starting in 2019. COTA has been slowly transitioning from diesel buses to natural gas already - a further move to electric buses would further cut pollution and save even more money. Electric buses are rare in the US, but China has a fleet of 170,000, which shows the potential. [Future Structure]Legislative Democrats in Ohio are putting forth legislation calling for a $15 minimum wage to be implemented by 2025. The gradual increase would see a jump to $12 an hour in 2019, and then a .50 boost every year after. [Dispatch/Siegel]Columbus has become a "hockey hotbed", with a recent weekend at Nationwide Arena seeing NHL games, the OHSAA state tournament, and a Big Ten semi-final between Ohio State and Michigan State. There was also a very large college club tournament with over 75 teams being played at the Chiller and the Ice Haus at Nationwide. Chiller North is even adding a third sheet of ice due to demand, reflecting the increasing popularity of the sport in central Ohio. [NHL.com]

Coming Up 📆🏒 3/12: Blue Jackets vs. Montreal Canadiens🎤 3/14: Demi Lovato & DJ Khaled (Schottenstein Center)🧠 3/14-17: COSI Brain Week🍕 3/15: Slice of Worthington🎸 3/15: Blake Shelton (Nationwide Arena)🏀 3/16: Ohio State vs. SDSU 4 PM (TNT)🏎 3/15-18: Columbus International Auto Show☘️ 3/16: The High Kings (Lincoln Theatre)🎻 3/16-17: Mendelssohn’s “Scottish,” Copland, and Beethoven(Ohio Theatre)🎭 3/16-18: Peter Pan: Lost Boy of Neverland🏒 3/17: Blue Jackets vs. Ottawa Senators🌺 3/17: Franklin Park Conservatory Retired Plant Sale🐰 3/17: Easter Open House 2018 at Anthony-Thomas Candy🚀 3/18: The Columbus Toy & Collectible Show

Longread 🚀Stephen Hawking has died, at age 76. He was almost certainly the most famous physicist in the world (probably the most famous ever apart from Einstein), at least partially due to his best selling book A Brief History of Time which spent years on best seller lists.Here are two articles on Hawking, the first a recent in depth look at how he was able to speak later in life, and the second his Guardian obituary.Wired: Giving Stephen Hawking a voiceThe Guardian: Stephen Hawking, modern cosmology's brightest star, dies aged 76

Something to say? Hit reply - we read it all.- James