The Arena District is the newest improvement to downtown and it has not stopped growing since the groundbreaking of Nationwide Arena in 2000.

Improvements have continually been added to the district with each visit, never ceasing to amaze.

Upon my most recent visit, the new addition happened to be Ted Turner’s new restaurant, Ted’s Montana Grill. Resisting my temptation, I passed, knowing I would soon be back to try the restaurant’s feature item, the Bison Burger. Instead, I traveled on to my favorite spot in the Arena District, the PromoWest Pavilion.

Having already brought well-known artists such as James Brown, Medeski, Martin and Wood and Ben Folds, the PromoWest Pavilion has established itself as a premier venue in Columbus in a relatively short time. With upcoming shows including Ani DiFranco, Ryan Adams and Ratdog, the future is bright, and when the outdoor venue is finally utilized the future will be even brighter.

Due to the vast amount of entertainment options, choosing a favorite spot in the district is extremely difficult. The Frog Bear & Wild Boar Bar, 343 N. Front St., is worthy of at least one visit from anyone over 21. Offering great food, live entertainment and microbrew wine and beer, this Chicago-style bar will be added to your list of favorite late-night hot spots.

Not to be outdone, Gordon Biersch, 401 N. Front St., also offers their own microbrews with an upscale atmosphere. This classy joint has room for about 500 people, and for that special occasion there is a private banquet room suited for 70 people. For the ultimate party, you may prefer the Italian food next door at Buca di Beppo, 343 N. Front St.

Buca has some of the most enormous portions of food offered outside of Italy. With a tour of the kitchen on each visit and the illustrious table in the kitchen, food is always prepared with the utmost dedication and respect – the only warning I’ll give about the restaurant is to stay away from the icedtea; it is Nestea.

With so many possible choices and new ones popping up daily, it becomes easy to overlook the main attraction to the district, which is good and bad. It is good because to overlook something so grand there must be some other compelling choices. It is bad because if you overlook Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., you are not only missing out on good times at the hockey games, but you are missing out on other Nationwide events as well as the Black and Blue restaurant.

Black and Blue is not solely a restaurant, but also a bistro and bar. With an upscale dining room, one could enjoy a fine, elegant meal, and simply by stepping into the next room you could be lucky enough to catch a small band playing or even a DJ performing. This Thursday, DJ James Brown will be spinning his version of progressive house from 10 p.m. until close.

With the addition of the Arena District to downtown, Columbus is finally landing on the map as a respectable city, rather than just a college town. Continual development will ensure the area’s prosperity, but maintaining our great new resource will be the key.

Adam Reiss is The Lantern arts editor and a senior in journalism. He enjoyed the Olympics and after further review believes those to be another example of fixed sports. Also, “Say what again. I dare you, I double dare you. Say what one more time!” He can be reached for comment at [email protected].