Letter From the Editor

Curating our inaugural issue of (614) Refined had me thinking about the zero-sum game. The theory goes for one to win in life, another must lose. That one’s success must come at the expense of others.

As each story unfolded, what rose to the top for me was an appreciation for these interviewees and their capacity to both find great success while also taking others along on the journey with them. In fact, they often removed the focus from themselves entirely to shine it on others - even seeming competitors.

This collaborative spirit reminded me of an article I read years ago about the friendship between George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Once jealous rivals, they grew to admire each other intenselyultimately deciding to join forces on a little movie they dreamt up while on vacation in Hawaii. As a result, Indiana Jones became a film franchise that has garnered almost $1 Billion to date.

As you read, I hope you will get a sense of the cooperative energy these dynamic frontrunners in our city share in common. If you can, spend an

hour at Sharon Weiss’ gallery, meeting renowned Ohio artists working side-by-side. Head over to Chapmans Eat Market and devour dishes dreamt up during restaurant meetings - a nod to the staff’s personal food experiences. Take a stroll through the Highland Youth Garden and immerse yourself, with all your senses, in the dedication of volunteers, staff, and board members to create a safe space for children in Hilltop. And commission Celeste Malvar-Stewart to create a one-of-a-kind piece for your wardrobe - a garment comprising the ultimate teamwork of local skillmanship and environmental duty.

I hope you will love this new endeavor from (614) as much as I do. From talent to wealth, goals to successes, passion to purpose - let’s keep celebrating all that is excellent, purposeful, and refined in Columbus.

P.S. Have a story idea for us? I’d love to hear about it

~ megan@614mediagroup.com