Navigation: 3 mega menus (Events, Eat + Drink, Explore) with 2/3 link pane + 1/3 editorial spotlight panel. 2 simple dropdowns (Parking + Safety, About) with icon + label + description per row. Donate CTA styled as distinct button. Editorial panels are CMS-managed single post references with fallback defaults; Explore groups subpages by section (Art + Culture, Shopping, Experiences, Stay); Shopping nav shows only Fashion, Gifts, and All Shopping (analytics-informed — other categories accessible via landing page); Mobile: editorial panels omitted.

Hero is the emotional contract — visitors should want to eat here before scrolling. Photography should lean toward evening/dinner/bar atmosphere (not breakfast or generic food). Two CTAs: one routes to Dinner subcategory (highest intent), other to full directory. CMS-editable headline + subhead.

Navigational backbone of the page. Dinner + Bars + Nightlife receive Tier 1 treatment (larger tiles, prominent placement) — reflects analytics-validated priority, not editorial preference. Tier 2 tiles are smaller. Each tile links to its subcategory archive page. On mobile, Dinner and Bars stack first; Tier 2 follows. Each tile: category name + editorial tagline + link.

In the Press. 3 cards linking to external articles about Short North dining. Each card includes an image, article title, short description, source name, and an outbound link. Content manager selects which articles to feature and enters: title, description (1–2 sentences), source name, URL, and image. Low maintenance — articles can stay up for months since they remain relevant. Refresh when notable new coverage appears.

Alternative navigation path that cuts across categories by occasion/mood. Each tile links to a pre-filtered view of All Restaurants + Bars (e.g., "date night" tag). Feels editorial, not like a faceted search UI. Technical dependency: Requires consistent business profile tagging (Late Night, Date Night, Patio, Special Occasion) in CMS. Confirm tag taxonomy with SNA before build.

Clear exit ramp to full directory for high-intent users. Dark, high-contrast band. Feels like a destination handoff, not a last plea. Filter teaser shows available filters to encourage exploration. Optional stats provide social proof. CTA links to All Restaurants + Bars listing page.

Bridges Eat + Drink content with Events — specifically food/drink-adjacent events (wine dinners, tastings, Hops on High, food festivals). Hops on High should receive elevated placement when active (marquee event with strong brand recognition). Cards pulled from Events CMS filtered by "Food + Drink" tag. Open question: Is the Events "Food + Drink" filter tag consistently applied in the CMS?