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Virginia Tech fan visiting

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VTfan08

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Hey Buckeyes, I'm coming with a small group to Columbus in 2014. Some questions:
  1. Where are the best bars to drink at the night before the game?
  2. Best hotels to stay at? (from a location standpoint, I'd like to walk everywhere)
  3. Tailgating advice? Go.
  4. Any good restaurants I should eat at?
  5. What else do I need to know/do when in Columbus? Any game day traditions or other awesome things?
 
1.) The ones I go to aren't exactly near the stadium, however, I like The Winking Lizard for its variety of beers, Barley's Brewing Company (The Smokehouse would be close to the stadium though), Columbus Brewing Company, and Gordon Beirsch Brewery
2.) The Homewood Suites is a nice hotel less than a 1/2 hour walk to the stadium (which is around where I live so I walk this path all the time), Holiday Inn, Fairfield Suites, Red Roof Inn, University Plaza Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, and Varsity Inn are all on Olentangy River Rd, which is very close to the stadium.
3.) Show up anywhere and you'll be welcome, there are open container laws in effect. You can usually set up anywhere though, the best places are all along Woody Hayes Dr.
4.) Schmidts Sausage Haus, Thurman's Café, Ohio Deli and Restaurant (All three were featured on Man Vs. Food. If you want more upscale, I can definitely provide info on that.
5.) The band. TBDBITL is definitely something you need to see live. About 15 minutes before the game they take the field for the Ramp Entrance. Precision marching at 180 beats per minute. 2 hours before the game, you can go to St. Johns Arena to watch the skull session. Basically a pep rally before the game with the band performing. If you've been on youtube, you know not to leave during halftime to get food or a bathroom break.
 
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There's a lot of good stuff to eat in German village (Schmidt's, Thurman's but be prepared for a long wait, Pistachia Vera, the neighborhoods are old school, upscale homes on cobblestone roads).

Regarding tailgating, if you are parking at one of the major lots, get there very early. They fill up fast. Football is the primary religion in this town and it starts at dawn on Gameday.

On Gameday there are plenty of bike transports to ferry you around for a fee if you have too much fun on Gameday and don't want to walk all the way back.
 
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Definitely recommend Schmidt's. The wait may be long, but that'll give you some time to check out German Village. Thurman Cafe is good, but the inside is tiny such that it's next to impossible to get a table there on ANY Saturday night, and it's even worse on Saturday nights when OSU plays at home. And the food (not to mention the location) is better at Schmidt's anyway in my opinion.
 
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VTfan08 said:
Hey Buckeyes, I'm coming with a small group to Columbus in 2014. Some questions:
  1. Where are the best bars to drink at the night before the game?
  2. Best hotels to stay at? (from a location standpoint, I'd like to walk everywhere)
  3. Tailgating advice? Go.
  4. Any good restaurants I should eat at?
  5. What else do I need to know/do when in Columbus? Any game day traditions or other awesome things?
Click to expand...

1) If you like craft beer, Bodega in the Short North is an absolute must. Incredible selection with 50+ taps and the food there is quite tasty and original. It's a good place to start. I'm also a fan of Eddie George Sports Grille on High Street. Once you want to get a little more rowdy though, just go to either the college bars on high street or downtown.
2) Not sure if you can still get a place at the Blackwell Inn, but it is really nice and directly across from the stadium. Really convenient all around.
3) I usually just wandered around, so I wouldn't be much help except to say wander around and you will be welcomed just about anywhere. Our fans are pretty welcoming for the most part and nobody has the slightest beef with VaTech. Just don't wear any blue/yellow combination and you will be set.
4) Again, love Bodega. I will also echo what everyone said on German Village, the eats there are incredible. I am also a huge fan of Mad Mex in the Gateway, which is on High Street in the Gateway area...excellent beer selection and you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Plus I am willing to bet that Mad Mex will be a significantly shorter wait.
5) Skull Session x 1,000. Incredible to see that drumline come in. Definitely watch the band at halftime.
 
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buckeyesin07 said:
Definitely recommend Schmidt's. The wait may be long, but that'll give you some time to check out German Village. Thurman Cafe is good, but the inside is tiny such that it's next to impossible to get a table there on ANY Saturday night, and it's even worse on Saturday nights when OSU plays at home. And the food (not to mention the location) is better at Schmidt's anyway in my opinion.
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As the many times I've been to Columbus, I have yet to go to Schmidt or Thurmans
 
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Thanks for the responses!

I definitely want to get drunk at the college bars haha. I make it a priority to do so at every new school I visit.

What's public transit like there? If I stay 1.5-2 miles from the stadium and don't have a car, is there an easy way to get there? (Sorry if that's a silly question; keep in mind that if you stay two miles away from Lane Stadium, you're on the edge of civilization).
 
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VTfan08 said:
Thanks for the responses!

I definitely want to get drunk at the college bars haha. I make it a priority to do so at every new school I visit.

What's public transit like there? If I stay 1.5-2 miles from the stadium and don't have a car, is there an easy way to get there? (Sorry if that's a silly question; keep in mind that if you stay two miles away from Lane Stadium, you're on the edge of civilization).
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There are public buses (COTA) going up and down High Street (US route 23) continuously.

http://www.cota.com/Schedules.aspx

Most things at the university (including campus bars and the stadium) as well as downtown Columbus are within walking distance from High Street. Find a hotel on or just close to anywhere along High Street between Worthington and downtown (and if you are willing to ride the public bus) transportation shouldn't be a problem.
 
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VTfan08 said:
Thanks for the responses!

I definitely want to get drunk at the college bars haha. I make it a priority to do so at every new school I visit.

What's public transit like there? If I stay 1.5-2 miles from the stadium and don't have a car, is there an easy way to get there? (Sorry if that's a silly question; keep in mind that if you stay two miles away from Lane Stadium, you're on the edge of civilization).
Click to expand...

You could also park at the Ohio State Fairgrounds and there are COTA shuttles going into the stadium area from there too.
 
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VTfan08 said:
Thanks for the responses!

I definitely want to get drunk at the college bars haha. I make it a priority to do so at every new school I visit.

What's public transit like there? If I stay 1.5-2 miles from the stadium and don't have a car, is there an easy way to get there? (Sorry if that's a silly question; keep in mind that if you stay two miles away from Lane Stadium, you're on the edge of civilization).
Click to expand...


The cool thing is that there's an area with hotels (Crosswoods) that's on the north side of Columbus (10 miles away). They even have COTA shuttle service from there straight to the stadium. I live 2 miles away from the stadium and walk there.
 
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