Anniversary flowers in Columbus

An anniversary in Columbus is usually a two-address problem: where they are staying or eating, and where they actually live. The hotel half is concentrated on a mile of High Street plus a couple of outliers. Hilton Columbus Downtown at 401 N High is the big one, attached to the Greater Columbus Convention Center and the default for anyone in town for an event. Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph at 620 N High is the Short North property, sitting in the gallery district with the Pizzuti Collection downstairs. Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection occupies the base of the 1927 LeVeque Tower at 50 W Broad — for a long time the tallest building between New York and Chicago, and still the most recognizable silhouette on the skyline. The Westin Great Southern Columbus at 310 S High is the 1897 property on the south end of downtown by the Southern Theatre. Add the Hyatt Regency Columbus (350 N High), Sheraton Columbus at Capitol Square (75 E State), Renaissance Columbus Downtown (50 N Third), Canopy by Hilton Columbus Downtown Short North, The Lofts in the Arena District, Graduate Columbus up High near campus, The Blackwell on the Ohio State campus itself, Hilton Columbus at Easton, Embassy Suites Columbus Dublin and the AC Hotel Columbus Dublin at Bridge Park, and you have almost the entire hotel demand curve for this city.

The dinner half is more spread out and more particular. German Village is the densest anniversary block in Columbus — brick streets, Schiller Park, and a cluster that includes Lindey's on East Beck, G. Michael's Bistro, Barcelona with its courtyard, and Chapman's Eat Market. Downtown and the riverfront carry Ocean Prime at Miranova, Veritas on Gay Street and Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse on Nationwide Boulevard in the Arena District. The Short North holds The Guild House, Marcella's and Wolf's Ridge Brewing just off North Fourth. Out of the core, The Refectory Restaurant & Bistro on Bethel Road is the classic Columbus special-occasion room, built inside an 1853 church; The Top Steak House on East Main in Bexley has been running as a supper club since the 1950s; Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse has Upper Arlington and Dublin rooms; Mitchell's Ocean Club sits at Easton; Hudson 29 covers Upper Arlington and New Albany; Basi Italia hides on a Victorian Village side street. One honest caution: most Columbus restaurants will not hold a bouquet for a later reservation, and a table drop mid-service is intrusive more often than it is romantic. The reliable version is flowers at the hotel front desk before check-in, or at home before the two of you leave for dinner.