It’s amazing what a little sunshine can do to the attitude. It’s time to crawl out of the dark cave, rub winter away and find some fun.

We’ve even had a few rain-free days sprinkled here and there to make us believe that we can sit out on a patio and soak in some fresh air. Happy Hour seems like a good a place to start, and you’ll be able to fill your dance card downtown pretty quickly.

OK, we won’t pretend to have an all-encompassing list, but a few places around downtown gave us the scoop of what’s on tap and what’s coming out of the kitchen for the after-work crowd. You might even want to knock off a little early to take full advantage.

Start by sampling a handcrafted pint from The Elevator Brewery and Draught Haus Monday – Friday for just 2.50 from 3-7 p.m., but if a frosty one isn’t your cup of tea, sip on 2.50 well cocktails and house wines and don’t forget to saddle up to the bar for 5.00 appetizers.

The Flat Iron is sporting a newly remodeled patio with 5.00 martinis and 2.00 well drinks and domestic beers from 4-7 p.m.

Special drink pricing and buy-one-get-one-free appetizers give you a lot of leeway at Latitude 41, Monday – Thursday, 5-6:30 p.m. It’s a perfect place to cool off on the shady patio in the toasty summer temps.

When you head out to our little oasis of Gay Street, check out Plantain Café for their 2.00 tacos from 3-6 p.m. And while you’re strolling around, make sure to hit Tip Top Kitchen and Cocktails, Due Amici and J. Gumbo’s as you kick back and enjoy some time with friends after work. 

Lexi’s on Third has a happy hour menu that includes drinks and eats that will keep you coming back for more. You might just find a new home on their spacious patio. Go ahead… Eat, Drink and Be Social.

And don’t forget to stop in and say hi to the other new kid on the block at Quarthouse. Fill your gut with 25 cent jumbo wings and wash them down with a cool one. You’ll find 2.00 domestics, 3.00 imports and 3.00 well drinks. Or try out Quarthouse’s sister location; Ringside Cafe will mix it up a bit with the same drink specials.

That’s a lot of places to hit. Probably makes you hot and tired just thinking about it. You might even need to cool off with a drink. So, here are a few more places you might want to check out…

Barrio
Darby’s Outdoor Café
Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace
Fleur
The Jury Room
Little Palace

It’s time for the third annual Show Your Love contest!  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s a great time for you downtown-ites to show some love to your favorite downtown eatery. 

That’s right, the downtown hot spot that gets the most votes wins the coveted Show Your Love plaque!  Who will join 2009 winner Jack’s Diner  and 2010 winner Dirty Franks Hot Dog Palace?  Old favorites like Cafe Napolitana?  New hits like Jimmy John’s?  Or maybe a new twist on an old fav like Little Palace?

We don’t want you to feel left out, though.  So to show you some love, when you vote here for your favorite you will be entered to win free lunches from each of our five featured restaurants, each of which marked its downtown debut in 2010:  Lynnally’s, Michael O’Toole’s, The Pickle, Si Senor Sandwiches and More and Spinelli’s Deli . 

They are begging for your vote.  Don’t believe us?  Check out these videos!

Congratulations to the 2010 Show Your Love Contest Winner (drum roll please…)

Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace!!!

Thanks to all of you who voted for your flav-o-favs!  With hundreds of votes cast, J. Gumbo’s fell short of the winner’s spot by a mere three votes, with Jack’s Diner, last year’s Show Your Love winner, and Burgers Dogs and Fries in hot pursuit.

Now the love showing worked both ways.  By voting for their favorite lunch spot, food fans were entered to win free lunches from our featured downtown restaurants: Barrio, Burgers Dogs and Fries, Caffe Daniela, Dirty Frank’s, J. Gumbo’s, and Plantain Cafe.  Congratulations to our winners who now know that there is such thing as a free lunch:

Erika Haske
Trish Mester
Alyson Miles
Angela Butler
Kristine Kring
Jen Town
Christina Ringley
Mary Groves
Jeremy
Chris Powers
Joshua Young
Rhonda Ries
Sandy Auckerman
Chris Carpenter
Mark Siple
Kris Davis
Charlie Letson

(to cast your vote immediately, click here.  if you want to learn more about the campaign, read on…)

Time flies: it’s been a full year since DowntownColumbus.com’s Show Your Love project launched.  Back in 2009, six local eateries joined in a good natured contest to become Downtown’s Official Sweetheart.

The competition was brutal.  The love was intense.  Ultimately, Jack’s Diner emerged as number one.

But it can be number one for only one year.  Jack’s reign has ended.  Although we still love the joint, it’s time to find 2010’s Official Sweetheart.

Just like last year, we’ve sweetened the deal for the voting public.  Cast a ballot for your favorite eatery and you’re automatically registered for a set of gift certificates from all the competitors: Barrio Tapas Lounge; Burgers Dogs and Fries; Caffe Daniela; Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace; J. Gumbo’s; and Plantain Cafe.  Vote early and vote often.

(Sigh)… and it seemed like just yesterday when Jack’s claimed its award.

EDITOR’S NOTE: It was yesterday.  SOMEBODY kept hoarding Jack’s award plaque in our office.  Oops.

If you want to re-watch anyone’s video, to really take in the message, just click on the link: Barrio Tapas Lounge; Burgers Dogs and Fries; Caffe Daniela; Dirty Franks Hot Dog Palace; J. Gumbo’s; and Plantain Cafe

Show Us Some Love 2010 from Downtown Columbus on Vimeo.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE HOT DOG STAND

The big debut of Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace (248 S. Fourth Street) is right around the corner.  No, seriously this time.  Everything that could possibly go amuck has already gotten mucked up.  Think it’s easy to open a restaurant?  Tell that to industry veteran, Liz Lessner.

Cuz it takes more than duct table.
As it turns out, Dirty Frank’s reasonable-looking address was in need of an extra makeover.  Liz details the horrifying process of discovery, “We thought the space needed a fresh coat of paint, but it was, in fact, out-of-code in just about every aspect imaginable.”  Her story ends in this magical phrase: gutted to the studs.

Cuz it’s about the money, honey.
More specifically, it’s about the entire meltdown of the mortgage industry.  Think it’s hard to get a home loan?  Try securing a commercial loan on a new business venture.

Cuz you gotta speak in code.
Even when you’ve finally got the money (honey), the economy can still throw major curves.  Said Liz, “The City of Columbus laid off most of its Building Services Department the week we needed to file for permits.  We were promised a twenty-day turnaround… it took nearly sixty days to get our permits.”

And does Lessner still love it all?  You betcha.  That’s what makes her a champ (and not a chump).  At the end of the day, she still says, “When setting up shop, there was no place I wanted to be but downtown.”