Right Now Downtown

CHEERS TO THE SUNSHINE

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

GET IT HERE – BUY LOCAL

What, no Nordstrom’s downtown?  Big deal, most of us can’t afford it anyway.

Sure, we have some vacancy issues downtown, but there are a lot of people working on that.  Given the fact the economy took a nose dive a while back, it’s impressive that people are opening up shop anywhere, so it’s great to see independent entrepreneurs making a go at it downtown.  Before anyone grouches about the stuff we don’t have, check out the diverse mix all within a short walk.

Start with bagels and pastries.  Check and check.  There’s plenty to go around from Broad Street Bagels to Dunkin Donuts to Einstein Brothers, and now local businessmen Joe Spinelli and Bill Ward are preparing to dish out some great deli fare at a second Spinelli’s location soon to open on High Street.

Fill your weekly grocery bag at Pearl Market on Tuesday and Fridays and support the toasty business incubator as folks test the downtown market.  Food is always a favorite, and have you tried the crepes yet at Leslie’s Creperie?  Forget the moon, the savory French pancakes will send you to Toulouse.  The Market also hosts vendors who craft handmade soaps and moisturizers and unique casual clothing that will keep you sporting through the day.  Cleaned and coiffed, cash in on the organic cheese, meat and meatless products, bread and fresh produce that all make shopping fun and save you loads of time.

Need to compare prices in the Market, but your arms aren’t long enough to bring the price tags in focus?  Rinkov Eye Center has walls of trendy frames.  Once you can see beyond the nose on your face, walk on over to Chet’s Jewelers, Flowers on Orchard Lane or the Peanut Shoppe, which ante up ample gift choices, and the Peanut Shoppe even provides a nice afternoon tide-me-over snack to boot.  For the record collectors out there, buzz on over to Spoonful for a vintage good time as your peruse through the vinyl offerings or play a quick game of pinball.

You’ve got groceries, snacks and gifts covered, but did you know downtown is the place to be for hardware and office supplies?  Zettler Hardware has been family owned and operated since 1844, and around the corner the folks at Graham’s Office Supply will help you find everything you need to keep your business running smoothly.  Don’t forget to ask them about their price-matching policy.

Has your kid nearly depleted your checking account with all the texting fees he’s accumulated, but you don’t have the energy or time to deal with the automated customer service line?  Talk to a real person at the downtown Sprint and Verizon stores.

Put your cell phone down when you go to talk to the guys at B1 Bicycles on Long Street and they will hook you up with a rockin’ new set of wheels that will make all your friends drool in envy as you whiz by.  And, just think of the money you’ll save if you opt for this green mode of transportation – surely enough to buy a round at the Elevator.

Shop here, buy here.  Keep it local.  Let us know your favorite stores to frequent and what you would like to see in the future.

TAKE A TOUR AND ENJOY A COCKTAIL

It’s hot and humid, and while Columbus may not offer up salty ocean breezes to lower the mercury on the thermometer, downtown antes up plenty of ways to cool off with frosty mugs and chilled cocktails all over town, all times of day.  Besides, it’s gotta be 5 p.m. somewhere in the world, right?  So, take a tour via one of these local hang outs.  But it’s not all-inclusive so let us know your favorite get-away.

Bartenders at Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails get the party started within minutes of arrival, and if you have any doubts, try one of their signature drinks like Commit to be Lit.  After a little bit of this concoction made with orange, vanilla and raspberry vodkas mixed with cranberry juice and a splash of 7-Up, you may never need to sit seaside again.

Sans the Manolo Blahnik’s and the four sassy chicks of Sex in the City, the Caucus Cosmo at the Double Tree Caucus Room provides a perfect way to relax after a long day at the office.

Travel on down to Barrio and pitchers of house-made white and red sangria, half off during happy hour from 4 – 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Grab a few tapas to share and you have created a vacation celebration without leaving the city.

Take the Elevator to kick the party into full swing with their $2.50 handcrafted pints from 3 – 7 p.m. every Monday through Friday, but don’t watch your clock in this historical building – their menu of beer and cocktails will make you forget the time, which is the point of resting seaside.

If you are still in need of a history lesson while you toss back a cold one, visit the Jury Room.  This neighborhood tavern has been serving up food and spirits since 1831.  You don’t even need to crack open a book to take advantage of the free appetizer buffet on Wednesdays and Fridays during happy hour, but you might want to grab a napkin.

Get Uncorked with half-price bottles and champagne at Due Amici on Monday nights and be-bop to live jazz beginning at 6 p.m.

Michael O’Toole’s continues the family tradition of the first O’Toole immigrant who settled in Southeastern Ohio serving up frothy cold ones to the miners who labored long days in the foothills of the Appalachians.  But you just need to head down to Nationwide Boulevard to take advantage of this Irish-style pub, or walk on ever to The Flatiron for a Chocolate Martini.  Heck, the night is young so check ‘em all out.

Wrap up your summer cocktail tour with the high-spirited Drunken Chunky Blonde from Sugardaddy’s, but don’t worry – you can even drive home after munching on this one.  The dense, chewy blonde is like a chocolate chip cookie on steroids with its premium chocolate chunks and toasted pecans.  A splash of bourbon essence mixed into the batter will have you jonesing for more.

Let us know your favorite place to kick back, take a break and cool off.  Cheers!