Columbia, SC Y'all!

Columbia is a town full of people coming and going. You have soldiers at Fort Jackson that have just arrived and may or may not be staying for awhile. With the new Convention Center and a host of new hotels people come in for a few nights on business from near and far. Even those of us that live here are often in the dark about what is going on.Living in Columbia you are often asked "What's there to do in Columbia?". Well when it comes night life you have two choices, Five Points or the Vista. These hot spots just but instead a areas that are of restaurants and is more college aged crowd as far getting an adult while the vista graduates young no matter which choose we're less Armani suits here and more flip flops and polos for guys and a nice shirt with jeans and heels for the girls. Most bars don't have a cover and if they do it isn't much. The Vista just recently discovered valet parking so there may be a small fee, but you can still park for free depending on how far you want to walk.
Speaking of walking, get ready to do a little. Most of the bars here are right together so you can walk from one to another until you find a fit (make sure not carry drink though, it's a big no, no here. We do have great weather and you'll find plenty of opportunity to sit outside.) No matter where you go there is something for everyone.

Lets start with the Vista. Like beer? You can join the UFO club and try one of everything (no small feet!) or get one of their great tee's.You can grab an oyster shot at the Oyster Bar, play a game of pool at Uncle Louie's or watch the game at Wild Hare. Go grab a Martini out on the deck at Liberty Tap Room. Big groups need big bars and you should try Jillian's. It has a huge bar, arcade room, Groove Shack and even volleyball off the deck. Stop by Wet Willies and get a brain freeze with one of their frozen drinks.

If music and dancing is more your style then you can spend an entire evening in one building. Start with some sushi at Tsunami's. Head next door to Tabu and get down and funky Asian style. Check out what the DJ is spinning at Element every weekend. Live music more your thing? See what band is playing at Headliners.

Across the street you can get some great tapas, sushi and saki at SakiTumi. Wild Wing Cafe has 33 different types of wings. Check out Carolina Ale House's rooftop bar. Want cheap drinks in a nice setting? Then wander over to Blue Tapas Bar. When your feeling funky walk on over to the Art Bar.If 2 o'clock is too early for you try out Kelly's Pub.

All of this and more is conveniently located near many of the city's cultural landmarks as well as the Convention center and Colonial Life Arena.

Are you ready to party! Five Points is your party place once the sunsets...and sometimes before. If your new to Columbia you'll hear a lot of talk about The Fountain. This is the center of five Points and the meeting spot for all sorts of events including Five Points After Five, a free concert series every year at The Fountain in Five Points. You can find an Irish Pub (Delany's) a jazz and martini bar (Speakeasy) and the most eclectic group of people anywhere (Group Therapy). Just paid tuition? Try Pourhouse so you don't end up in one. Then there's all of the bar's you'll have to visit on the way between these places.

So it's not quite night time, now what? You can stop in for a pitcher of iced coffee at Adrianna's or go thrift shopping at Sid and Nancy. For all the hippies out there there's Loose Lucy's. OOP's clothing can save you some serious cash. Accessorize yourself at WISH when you get time.

Hungry? Look for the man in the giant bathtub and you've found Yesterday's. Mr. Friendly's New Southern Cafe will fill you up southern style. Grab a gyro at Sammi's Deli. You can't go wrong with pizza by the slice and a cold beer at Village Idiot Pizza and Pub. Your sure to find something hear no matter what your craving.

First you should know that BBQ is made with pork, not beef (although chicken is good too for a little variety). While there are actually 3 types of sauce here in SC depending on region, mustard based reigns supreme in the midlands of SC (ketchup based is in the upstate, while in the Pee Dee the sauce of choice is a spicy vinegar base). One of our most famous restaurants for mustard based barbecue is Maurice's Gourmet Barbecue. They have shredded pork, ribs, chicken, hash and burgers that you can get as a basket with fries. You can also purchase sauces to take home. Sticky fingers originated in Myrtle Beach, but they also have mustard based sauce as well as some other regional favorites. You can pick up a T-shirt or take home some sauce to commemorate your trip to Columbia at Sticky Fingers as well.

photo found at http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2420/2829098096_b2aeae077a_m.jpg

Sandy's is a mainstay here in Columbia. They have other things besides ice cream and hot dogs, but that's why most of us are there. My favorite way to order a Sandy's fourth of a pound hot dog combo is topped with chili, onions, mustard, slaw, Texas Pete and black pepper, but you can order yours any way you want. You can even get pimento cheese if you want. Combos include a hot dog (or other sandwich), chips and a drink (go for the sweet tea or lemonade). If you've still got room order a scoop of ice cream, a shack or a gigantic banana split, I suggest bringing a friend if for no other reason than to split the banana...well you know.

photo found at http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/150056706_6e502959c3_m.jpg

The Rush's name began in the 1960's in the St. Andrews area here in Columbia. It had a reputation for great burgers and shakes that is still true today. Since 1980, Rush's has added 6 more restaurants in in The Capital City. In addition to hamburgers and shakes, Rush's also serves fried chicken, hot dogs, barbecue and sundaes. Stop buy and get yourself a basket. You won't go hungry here!

photo found at http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/2429106815_e48874e889_m.jpg

One of the nations top 10 zoos consistently, you have to visit the zoo. You can spend an entire day here easily.There are animals from around the world and several types of botanical gardens. There are also educational programs and group tours available. There are also scheduled events involving the animals through out the day. Riverbanks is committed to conservation. You can bring a picnic or eat at any of the food stands or restaurant with in the zoo. This is fun for the whole family you won't forget.
Visit http://www.riverbanks.org/ for more information.

Finlay Park
Located in downtown Columbia, you'll find all sorts of events going on here. Plenty of areas to play for kids of all ages.Admission is free and the park is open from 7am to 9pm daily. Keep an eye out for whats going on here.

Granby Park
The 24-acre linear park has canoe access points, fishing spots, bridges and a half mile of nature trail along the banks of the Congaree River.

Memorial Park
The largest monument of its type outside of Washington D.C., stands here as a memorial to 980 South Carolinians who died in Vietnam. The park also features a new Holocaust monument. Designed by renowned sculptor Irwin Hyman, the monument stands on a granite Star of David and features the names of Holocaust liberators and survivors of South Carolina engraved on its granite walls. The memorial includes a map of the death camps across Europe and a chronology of World War II, and has a Korean War Memorial. Free from Dawn until Dusk.

Palmetto Falls Water Park
Located on Fort Jackson it features a 10,000-square foot main pool, lazy river, large corkscrew water slide, two large speed-slides, two small speed-slides for the children's activity pool, a toddler pool and a four-lane lap pool. Hours of operation are Tues-Sat 11am-7pm and Sun 1-7pm and admission in $9.50. Don't forget to bring all essentials to get through the gate.

Riverfront Park & Historic Columbia Canal
Includes amphitheater and self guided walk way. Look for events happening here throughout the year such as Greekfest and some concerts.

Sesquicentennial State Park
Trails,camping and a man made lake. You can rent canoes and paddle boats on the lake. I know from experience the paddle boats are $5 per hour and that includes a life vest for each person.

These are just a few of the opportunities to get outside here in Columbia so get out and enjoy the sunshine.

* Alex English(1954- )- NBA player in the 1980's for the Milwaukee Bucks
* Kary Banks Mullis(1944- )-Raised in Columbia and went to Dreher HS. He won
the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993.
* Kristin Davis(1965- )Raised in Columbia since a young age. Sex in the City Star.
* Mary Louise Parker(1964- )-Born on Fort Jackson. Emmy, Tony and Golden
Globe winning actress. Known for "Fried Green Tomatoes", "The West Wing", and
"Weeds".
* Blue Sky(1938- )-Born and raised in Columbia,USC graduate very famous here.
Nationally known artist.
* Joseph Bernardin(1928-1996)-Born and raised, USC graduate. Archbishop of
Chicago from 1982 until 1996. Cardinalate from 1983 until 1996.
* Crossfade- Nationally known band formed in Columbia, SC in 1999.
* Hootie and the Blowfish- Nationally known band formed in 1986 at the University
of South Carolina.
* Angie Stone(1961- )-Nationally known recording artist born and raised in
Columbia.
* Young Jeezy(1977- )-Born in Columbia and raised in Atlanta. Rapper.
* Sterling Sharpe(1965- )-USC graduate. NFL player and analyst.
* Robert McNair(1937- )-Graduate of USC. Former SC Governor and the owner
of the Houston Texans.
* Leeza Gibbons-Raised in Irmo and USC graduate. Journalist, talk show host and
reporter.

1. If a man promises to marry an unmarried woman, the marriage must take place by law.Tell my ex-fiance that...or better yet don't.
2. Fortune tellers must get a special permit from the state.I see the state getting extra cash from regulations in their future.
3. Performing a U-turn within 1000 ft of an intersection is illegal. You can image the money we waste on "no U-turn" signs.
4. Until recently it was illegal to get a tattoo in SC.This led to 3 really stupid things: people giving themselves tattoos, people running unsanitary tattoo parlors in their basement (more Dept. of Health revenue though), and people spending their money in Georgia and North Carolina.
5. All bars in SC had to use mini bottles until January 1st, 2006 (I believe). It was supposed to cut back on people driving drunk, but instead of people getting one ounce per drink they got 1.7 ounces. This also led to tons of mini bottles being in landfills and confusion when ordering since shots had to be "split". Example: "I want 1 Washington Apple 2 ways," or "I want 2 Washington Apples 3 ways". You can imagine the fun bartenders had with out of state people and the fun we had going out of state and feeling like our drinks were watered down, or falling into old habits and ordering shots like this in another state. Yes, I am a career bartender, lol.
6. Well this one's obvious, horses must not be kept in bathtubs (we know who you are...so stop it before you get arrested).
7. A permit must be obtained to fire a missile. This isn't for Ft. Jackson because the aren't under our jurisdiction. Hmmmm...
8. No alcohol could be sold on Sunday unless you owned a private club until recently. This was to get alcoholics to go to church I guess.
9. It is illegal to give or receive oral sex in SC. (hehehe...I typed oral sex on a lens for SC).
10. It is perfectly legal to beat your wife on the courthouse steps on Sunday. Most idiot redneck wife beaters do it in the privacy of their own home where they can be arrested for Domestic Violence though.
11. It is a capital offense to inadvertently kill someone while attempting suicide. Just good on it's own.
12. In Charleston, the fire dept. may blow up your house. It was passed in order to make a fire break. Choose your fire chief carefully and don't get on his bad side Charlestonians (or whatever your called).
13. If your in Spartanburg you cannot sleep on the beach. Firstly because there are no beaches and secondly because it's illegal.
14. In Greenville the official drinking age is 60 years old. Prevents keg stands?
15. Barber schools are required by law to have at least ten instructional chairs -and those chairs are required by law to be upholstered and finished exactly the same way.
16. In 2003, a bill was introduced that would have required all drinking straws in South Carolina be sold in individual wrappers. The bill almost led to a fist fight on the House floor. Don't worry...looking for the video.
17. In Greenville, South Carolina If you get in your car and put it in drive without a seatbelt on, whether the vehicle is moving or not, you get an automatic $25 fine. It's all those drunk 60 year olds getting ready to take off with out their seatbelts.

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