Downtown Breakfast Joints

I found this great article on hole-in-the-wall breakfast spots that was published in 614 magazine last November.  There have been a few changes, Big Bites at 79 S. Fourth Street is now Hae-Paul's and does serve breakfast lunch and dinner.  The Inn Between has a new owner and is now called, The Hungry Soul Cafe.  And finally, Manifesto opened last November and is open during the week for breakfast starting at 8 a.m.

http://614columbus.com/article/breakfast-with-nick-around-the-corner-down-5574/

Experience the Gay Street Corridor

The Columbus Dispatch ran a feature article last month claiming the “once-sleepy Gay Street has become once of the most vibrant corridors in an awakening Downtown.”

From the onset of the Neighborhood Launch development, one of the feature selling points of the downtown condo development was its location and proximity to Gay Street. The idea would be for residents to walk to local restaurants, bars and other amenities.

In 2007, when the Neighborhood Launch was announced, Gay Street was one way and the few businesses between High and Third streets consisted of the Renaissance Hotel, Due Amici and Tip Top and some offices. 

Thanks to an influx of downtown residents; implementation of the city’s master plan to better connect downtown with the Scioto River and Columbus Commons, and improvements to Gay Street which made it a two-way street, over the next five years Gay Street evolved into one of the hippest streets in downtown Columbus.

Because many of the businesses are independently owned, one great off shoot from this urban hub of commerce is the annual Independents’ Festival held in September.

Gay Street is a destination when you have guests from out-of-town.  Here are the top 10 things to consider when visiting Gay Street:

1. Sip on a latte at Café Brioso.  Order their fresh mozzarella sandwich on foccacia to go.
2. Pick up some vintage records at Vinyl Frontier.
3. Fix your sweet tooth with a blondie or brownie from Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties.
4. Try the fish tacos with a Cuban coffee at Plantain Café.
5. Select your own personalized wallet at Zeroz.
6. Stop by Tip Top for one of their fine whiskey concoctions, or just a Pabst Blue Ribbon on draft.
7. Hang out at the patio at J. Gumbo’s for Happy Hour in the summertime.
8. Sample the Red Velvet frozen yogurt at 39 Below.
9. Attend one of the pool parties at the Renaissance Hotel.  For a small price you can get some tasty bites to eat as well as beverages.
10. Treat your toes to a pedicure at the Nail Spa.