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COLUMBIA,
South Carolina: Insider's
View to the Capital City
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION:
interesting TIPS
about SOUTH CAROLINA'S
CAPITAL
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ichland County, which surrounds Columbia, was recently named an All-America Community by the National Civic League. The All-America Community Award encourages and recognizes civic excellence, honoring communities in which citizens, government, business and nonprofit organizations demonstrate successful resolution of critical community issues.
Thirty communities have been named as one of “America’s Most Livable Communities.” Columbia is one of them. The award was given by the Washington-based non-profit, Partners for Livable Communities, and honors communities that are developing themselves in the creative economy.
Poke around the city one weekend and you’ll find surprising restaurants in alleys and offbeat entertainment in restored warehouses. The town can be decidedly cool, despite its reputation for hot summers!
Take Trustus. This avant-garde, professional theater has been bringing off-Broadway to South Carolina’s capital city for 18 years. Buy a drink at the bar, settle into a comfy swivel chair, and munch on the free popcorn, while waiting for the show. It could be a musical, a comedy or a provocative drama. Whatever’s playing, it will be an experience.
The Columbia Festival of the Arts takes place in April. The 10-day arts celebration spotlights the local theater, artists, museums, musicians and dancers that grace the arts scene of Columbia, South Carolina.
The EdVenture children’s museum, across from the State Museum, offers hands-on exhibits and special programs.
Columbia Museum of Art offers a “window to the world” to its visitors, not only through the display of its permanent collection, but with a series of public programs.
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lso in downtown Columbia, the Vista includes a lively 600 acres of restored warehouses, shops, galleries, bistros.
Meanwhile, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, one of the top ten zoos in the country, has recently completed a $19 million expansion. On the University of South Carolina campus, the new Inn at USC proves that a historical home can be incorporated into a new state-of-the-art hotel and meeting facility.
Henry and Tina Haitz and their family recently moved to Columbia when he became president and publisher of The State, the largest newspaper in South Carolina which is regularly awarded for its quality journalism and photography. “Columbia is fortunate to have better than average economic stability thanks to the presence of state government, the University of South Carolina, Lake Murray and Fort Jackson,” says Mr. Haitz. “These strong anchors demand outstanding activities for residents and visitors. The Columbia Museum of Art is one example, with its world-class international collections in a fabulous environment.” Mr. Haitz participates on a number of local boards, including the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, United Way and the Summit Club, which has a special meaning for him.
“Former publisher Ben Morris was a founding member of the Summit Club in 1983, and helped to establish it as Columbia’s premiere club,” Mr. Haitz says. “It’s perfect for entertaining business associates or just unwinding with friends, and the city views from the 20th floor are outstanding.”
Those views include the Business Improvement District (BID), a 36-block area with bike and foot patrols. Public assistance and directions are available seven days a week. The overall initiatives of the organization include retaining and recruiting businesses, expanding the downtown residential base, removing debris and graffiti, acting as aides to the police department, and improving landscaping by planting seasonal flowers.
The Colonial Center is an 18,000-seat basketball/entertainment arena, and there’s a new convention center.
Another outstanding attraction that’s close is Lake Murray, with over 600 miles of shoreline, in adjoining Lexington County. Boaters gather on the summer evenings on Lake Murray to view the over 700,000 purple martins that make their nightly pilgrimage to roost in the trees of Lunch Island. Professional fishermen from across the country troll its waters for largemouth bass; others sail, ski, dive and camp on the islands.
F. Chaz and Jeannie Ciernick moved from Las Vegas to Columbia, and specifically the Lake Carolina community. “I was invited here to work with Shep Cutler and Associates, a specialist in the senior insurance market,” he explained. “This was a new area to us so my wife and I flew here and spent three days with a real estate agent showing us houses nonstop.”
When they found Lake Carolina, they were sold. The couple prefers a master-planned community and judges this “one of the best.” She’s an ICU nurse, and he’s gotten active with the Chamber of Commerce. Last year, he participated in the Lake Murray Triathalon. For them, big differences in Las Vegas and Columbia include less congestion and the Southern hospitality. “People really are friendly here,” he says, adding, “They open their doors and hearts to you immediately.”
Columbia’s fortuitous location, two hours from the mountains and the ocean, is an oft-cited plus. Additional reasons to stay in town include the Nickelodeon Theatre, a dozen theater groups, the SC Philharmonic, a handful of dance companies, festivals galore, historic mansions and shady neighborhoods. |
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"They talk about Southern charm and hospitality – it’s alive and well in Columbia, South Carolina.” |
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Columbia - with Lake Murray just 15 minutes away, a major university and several colleges clustered in its core, and well-kept neighborhoods where people on bikes wave to people on foot - seems to have it all.
Newcomers talking about Columbia sound a little like Goldilocks. “It’s just right,” is the chief opinion that flows through their dialogue, whether they’re talking about its size, cultural and recreational activities, or people.
“I’ve got so much on my plate I’m trying to get a little bit off,” says a somewhat rueful Susan Ryal, who moved here from Orlando to be near family when her husband died. Thinking she’d mainly be involved with her daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters, Mrs. Ryal eventually found herself juggling a part-time job and what seems to be full-time fun.
She’s discovered Columbia has a lot to offer: several live theaters, numerous restaurants of many varieties, the South Carolina Philharmonic, and the many concerts,
lectures and performances at the University of South Carolina.
Clearly an arts lover, she heads to Charleston every spring for that city’s Spoleto USA Festival,
a two-week international performing arts extravaganza. Less than two hours away, Charleston
beckons many who live in this middle-of-the-state capital city. All this, plus her commitments
to a Toastmasters club and two chambers of commerce, and you’ve got one active lady.
“I am busier here than I ever was in Orlando,” she observes, adding she was surprised by Columbia’s
array of amenities. Orlando, with its focus on tourism, would have been much busier, she had figured.
But that was more than three years ago, before she settled into Ivy Green, a Mungo Company patio community in Irmo, a suburb known for its exceptional public schools and proximity to Lake Murray. “I think Columbia is an absolutely wonderful area for both youngsters and adults.” So, what’s up for this weekend? She pauses. “I’m hoping to relax and stay home.”
And that’s something you can do here, too. A relaxed atmosphere seems to enfold Columbia, for the most part, anyway. There are frenzied moments during USC football and basketball games, and high-energy times when the state legislature is in session. But traffic isn’t the nightmare you find in larger cities, and people rarely break in line.
“I didn’t quite know what we were getting into, coming this far south,” confesses Connie Carlson, a Wisconsin native. “I didn’t know what it was all about. But this is the friendliest community I’ve ever been in and we’ve been in quite a few. It’s incredible."
Connie Carlson and husband Greg moved here from Owensboro, Kentucky,
so he could pursue a Ph.D at USC’s highly-regarded Arnold School of Public Health.
They live in Cobblestone Park, a gated community in Blythewood, just north of
Columbia. Not only does it have what Mr. Carlson describes as a “beautiful,
challenging and well-maintained” golf course, it has tennis courts,
swimming pools and a fitness center. A new
clubhouse is in the works. That makes Cobblestone Park equally attractive to their
two sons – one at Duke University, the other at Davidson College. Cobblestone’s
location, close to I-77, means the Carlsons can be visiting Eric at Duke in three hours and Andrew at Davidson in a little more than one. “We can go see them and take them to dinner, just to see their faces more than once or twice a year,” Mrs. Carlson says.
Columbia’s “middle-of-everything” location appeals largely to Mrs. Carlson, who loves the ocean. A day trip to the Isle of Palms near Charleston has become a favorite destination. “We pack a little picnic lunch and stay a whole day and come back,” she says. “It’s a jewel of a day trip.” In fact, Mrs. Carlson says she feels like she’s always on vacation, even though she quickly found work. “I go out on my patio and just feel like I’m in a different part of the country,” she says, describing a view of magnolia, cypress and pine trees.
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For those who like outdoor recreation, outfitters provide kayaks, rafts and guides; and for those who prefer a more relaxed experience, simple fishing abounds on the riverbanks and on rocks in the water.
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“It’s kind of the best of all worlds here,” summarizes Mr. Carlson, who grew up in Minnesota. Columbia, he says, reminds them of Madison, Wisconsin. That’s where Mrs. Carlson grew up and where they met. The only difference is the warmer weather. “They’re both university towns and state capitals,” he notes. “We’ve always liked the university environment in a town about this size. There’s a lot to offer but it’s not so large it’s difficult to get around.”
Columbia’s three rivers – the Saluda, Broad and Congaree – give the city much of its character. In recent years, leaders have made them more accessible to the public, carving winding trails along their banks and building an amphitheater for concerts and theatricals. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, with its headless horseman charging on the riverside amphitheatre stage on a live horse, has become a Halloween tradition rife with squeals and laughter.
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Professional fishermen from across the country troll its waters for largemouth bass; others sail, ski, dive and camp on the islands. |
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Riverbanks Zoo and Garden boasts koalas from Australia, 10 new Gentoo penguins, four very friendly giraffes that’ll eat straight out of your hand, a troop of bachelor gorillas and over 2,000 other animals. One of the finest zoos in the country, Riverbanks added a 70-acre botanical garden in 1995. Today, the Garden is the setting for a variety of activities, from summer evening events like elaborate wine tastings and First Thursdays in the Garden to classes and camps offered all year round.
Columbia has a new 18,000-seat basketball/entertainment arena, and a 142,500 sq. ft. convention center.
Another outstanding attraction that’s close is Lake Murray, with over 600 miles of shoreline, in adjoining Lexington County. Boaters gather on the summer evenings on Lake Murray to view the over 700,000 purple martins that make their nightly pilgrimage to roost in the trees of Lunch Island.
F. Chaz and Jeannie Ciernick moved from Las Vegas to Columbia, and specifically the Lake Carolina community. “I was invited here to work with Shep Cutler and Associates, a specialist in the senior insurance market,” he explained. “This was a new area to us so my wife and I flew here and spent three days with a real estate agent showing us houses nonstop.”
When they found Lake Carolina, they were sold. The couple prefers a master-planned community and judges this “one of the best.” She’s an ICU nurse, and he’s gotten active with the Chamber of Commerce. Last year, he participated in the Lake Murray Triathalon. For them, the big differences in Las Vegas and Columbia are less congestion and the Southern hospitality. “People really are friendly here,” he says, adding, “They open their doors and hearts to you immediately.”
Columbia’s fortuitous location, two hours from the mountains and the ocean, is an oft-cited plus. Additional reasons to stay in town include the Nickelodeon Theatre, a dozen theater groups, the SC Philharmonic, a handful of dance companies, festivals galore, historic mansions and shady neighborhoods.
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The area around Columbia, called the “Midlands” is often touted as ideally situated.
After all, it’s only a two-hour drive to either mountains or ocean.
But…there’s plenty to keep folks happy and healthy at home. |
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The Rounds live two blocks from the Village Green, where concerts and movies are enjoyed in the summer and a Halloween party in the autumn. Being able to walk to the center of town and a playground are pluses for the Rounds, who have young grandchildren who visit from out-of-state. They haven’t had a lot of time to explore much outside Lake Carolina, but enough for Mrs. Rounds to be impressed by Columbia’s plethora of shopping and the care Mr. Rounds was given at Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital.
A utility manager, Mr. Rounds remembers a recent conversation he had with someone from Rochester, New York. Heavy snows were falling there, and the New Yorker said she’d rather have the snow than hurricanes that plague coastal areas. Mr. Rounds pointed out that hurricanes aren’t an issue inland, and that he’d experienced more hurricanes in Massachusetts than South Carolina. As for Mrs. Rounds, she’s just enthralled with the weather. “I’ve only had my winter coat on one evening,” she confides. “I mean, it’s beautiful here.”
Even Goldilocks would approve – not too big, not too small, but just right.
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Arts & CultureGet Cultured (no pearls required). Columbia is fortunate to have a myriad of arts to choose from on any given weekend of the year – a play at one of the seven theaters, a free concert in Finlay Park, the nationally-acclaimed Columbia City Ballet, a gallery opening in the Congaree Vista, the professional South Carolina Philharmonic, or a visit to the Columbia Museum of Art.
The Cultural Council
Columbia has incredible performing arts, as well as visual arts.
Phone: 803.799.3115 • www.getcultured.org
What to Do & What to See
Old, new, hot, cool.
That’s the juxtaposition at the Columbia Museum of Art, where an abstract sculpture fountain greets
visitors before they step inside to view an international collection of classical paintings.
From March 6 through June 7, the museum welcomes 53 important works of art with Turner to
Cezanne: Masterpieces from the Davies Collection, National Museum Wales. Just another reason,
besides temperature, why South Carolina’s capital city is “famously hot,” as its new slogan maintains.
Photo courtesy of Columbia Museum of Art
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
One of the top zoos in the U.S., Riverbanks also boasts a pretty amazing garden that delights visitors from everywhere (and hosts a great wine tasting in the spring). Don’t miss the zoo’s new “flying” Gentoo penguins.
Phone: 803.779.8717 • www.riverbanks.org
EdVenture – Children’s Museum
A museum for children? Absolutely! It’s kid-friendly and great fun for children of all ages who like to be hands-on and up close.
Phone: 803.779.3100 • www.edventure.org
South Carolina State Museum
Grown-ups have several great museums, too. Go where history, folklore, the famous and the curious collide in an old textile mill which never imagined its rebirth as such a beautiful (and inviting) showcase.
Phone: 803.898.4921 • www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org
Columbia Museum of Art
Interesting adult art programs, regional and national exhibits in a refurbished downtown facility.
Phone: 803.799.2810 • www.columbiamuseum.org
Calling all Sports FansColumbia has a major love affair with college sports – any time, any season. In addition to University of South Carolina and Benedict College sports, hockey has attracted an enthusiastic fan base. Who would have thought it?
Columbia Inferno (Professional Hockey)
Phone: 803.256.PUCK • www.columbiainferno.com
Military Honors Columbia has a long and cherished love of the young men and women who have trained at Fort Jackson. Many officers choose to return for retirement and
second careers.
United States Army Training Center, www.jackson.army.mil
Food & Dining Experiences
MoMo’s Bistro
2930 Devine St. Creative specials, good wine list, and use of fresh produce.
Phone: 803.252.2700.
Gervais and Vine
620 Gervais St. In the Vista, Columbia’s downtown hotspot, featuring a fantastic variety of wines by the glass and innovative tapas.
Phone: 803.799.8463. www.gervine.com
Hampton Street Vineyard
1207 Hampton St. Quiet elegance and great food in an intimate setting.
Phone: 803.252.0850 • www.hamptonstreetvineyard.com
The Blue Marlin
1200 Lincoln St. Another Vista destination, great variety and worth a trip for their stone-ground grits and collards – really!
Phone: 803.799.3838.
Motor Supply Company Bistro
920 Gervais St. Back to the Vista again, this time for great creative cuisine, lighter meals, and, always, a vegetarian option.
Phone: 803.256.6687 • www.motorsupplybistro.com
Mr. Friendly’s New Southern Café
2001-A Greene St. Fabulous seafood and salad combinations, plus much more, in a casual, award-winning atmosphere.
Phone: 803.254.7828 • www.mrfriendlys.com
Unique Local ShoppingWhere to buy your bling (among other things). Generally speaking, shops on Devine St. and in the Vista have unique gifts for you or your loved ones. In particular:
Coplon’s
4825 Forest Dr. Beautiful clothing, professional assistance.
Phone: 803.790.0015.
The Bohemian
2736 Devine St. An eclectic mix of home furnishings, clothing, jewelry and furniture, plus objet d’arts.
Phone: 803.256.0629.
Hand Picked
Harbison Blvd., Village at Sandhills and Devine Street. Interesting jewelry and gifts.
Phone: 803.749.6024. www.handpicked.com
One Eared Cow Glass
1102 Huger St. Artisans create amazing works of art.
Phone: 803.254.2444. www.oneearedcow.com
Moxie’s
631-C Harden St. Exotic one-of-a-kind gifts and artwork.
Phone: 803.929.0644.
Unforgettable
2511 Devine St. Gallery of fine jewelry and gifts, with unique education programs.
Phone: 803.779.3636. www.unforgettable-jewelry.com
Business Climate & Opportunities ~ Columbia was recently one of 30 communities named one of “America’s Most Livable Communities.” The award was given by the Washington-based nonprofit, Partners for Livable Communities, and honors communities that are developing themselves in the creative economy.
~ A Business Improvement District (BID) is a 36-block area with bike and foot patrols. Public assistance and directions are available seven days a week. The overall initiatives of the organization include retaining and recruiting businesses, expanding the downtown residential base, removing debris and graffiti, acting as aides to the police department, and improving landscaping by planting seasonal flowers. It’s all designed to make the downtown area cleaner and safer.
~ Construction on the first phase of the USC Research Campus – called InnoVista – has begun. Five dedicated research buildings will be constructed, creating 1.5 million square feet of working space and accommodating 6,000 people.
~ According to Dr. Andrew Sorenson, President of USC, the vision for the research campus is that it becomes a magnet for attracting the brightest minds and most innovative companies in the world to South Carolina. “USC is building a catalyst for improving the quality of life for all South Carolinians,” he explained. Primary research clusters will include alternative fuel sources, biomedical,
nanotechnology and environmental sciences.
more about columbia
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About the AuthorsAida Rogers has
worked in newspapers, magazines, legal newsletters and television.
The USC graduate and Lexington, SC, native currently is managing
editor of Sandlapper, The Magazine of South Carolina, for
which she writes a column about the most popular restaurants in
The Palmetto State. Call her with your favorites at (803) 808-1664.
Katherine O. Pettit
has worked as a writer,
magazine editor, printer
and public relations
consultant. The Columbia
resident has published
more than 250 articles
in magazines and
newspapers. Her writing
explores a variety of
subjects including
travel, lifestyles,
business and management.
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