The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 25, 1991, Page 3, Image 3
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n^ito ^
By DENNIS SHEALY
staff wnier Columbia those enjoyable
Love makes you stupid. ,, , ..i_ ^
Plays about love making people the tO\A/D With friQDClS, OTQ the
stupid make me queasy, but The college life that will live forever ir
mories- Join us each week in "Col
Juliet Wednesday night at the Ko- CIS WO QXplOTG thQ fUH plOCOS be
ger Center was, to a large extent, CldSSrOOm, the places that make C
an exception. nr^nt
The two main problems with yi&UI.
this otherwise excellent production
are Mark Guin's performance as
Romeo and the lack of direction
from director Leon Rubin. .
It may be that love makes peopie
stupid, but it doesn't make
them clumsy idiots. Guin's performance
of Romeo was very inconsistent.
He didn't seem to know k
whether he wanted his character to ak Mm
be passionate or a slapstick goof- |H^ Mj
off, and he constantly switched
back and forth between these ex
tremes and even hit a few points in
bet^ ^ his^ ^ ^ ^
the other talented actors in the
cast. Trish Jenkins was wonder- |H
fully funny as Juliet's boisterous fl
maid, which by the way is probably
the best role to have in this I
play. Another good role that is of- 9
ten overlooked is that of Mercutio, fl
Romeo's friend, which was played
with great skill and flare by William
Michie. HHH
A hand should also be given to Renee Meyer/The Gamecock
the lighting, set and costume de- A pizza maker at The Village Idiot tosses the
signers who did a lot with a little. dough for the restaurant's New Jersey-style pizza.
Post-Superbowl ?Sji
Celebration pJHjl|
Sunday Nite
10pm-2am j
Drink Specials j ^
Homemade Pizza I X v-Ofl(
'
^GOODFELLA'S CAFE ?
4510 Devine Street
(across from Applebee's)
All ABC Regulations Enforced 790-4053 Jlfv) VM^CISC
ATTENTION
j^2er^m ?SC STODENT LEADEB
-Develop your leadership abilities?
-Assure that your future officers will
have the skills to lead your organization?
-Improve the quality and effectiveness
r\f \/r\i ir rimi in nr nrnnniTn+ionO
w i y vu i y1 iiz_V^4 i IUI i .
-Attend exciting workshops and listen
challenging motivational speakers?
1991 STUDENT LEADERSHIP
TRAINING CONFERENCE
Date: Saturday, February 2,1991 Place: Russell House
Cost: $15 for USC-Columbia Students
Deadline for registration is Friday, January 21
Call 777-5780 or come by the Campus Activities Center
if you have any questions or would like to register.
Ih, i yi? IMII in Ml
times out
Pizzeria s style
'a Mghfe" . .
vxz relaxing, cozy
By KATHY BLACKWELL
Editor in Chief
Although Village Idiot sounds like a name that could apply to a lot of college students
after a Friday night of frolicking in Five Points, it is actually the name of one of the area's
newest ? and definitely different ? eating and drinking establishments.
As its unusual name suggests, The Village Idiot, located at 2009 Devine St., is not your
typical bar or pizzeria. It is located at the top of a flight of stairs in a loft-like fashion, the
ceiling is covered in splashes of different colors (the work of USC art students), and pillows
are scattered on wooden benches to help customers get comfortable. Music ranging
from The Who and The Beatles to The Police and The Replacements plays over the sound
system.
The idea for such a casual restaurant where neonle can have a slice of nizza and a cold
beer without any hassles was the brainchild of a couple of guys from New Jersey.
"I basically came (to Columbia) for a change in my business," said co-owner Dominic
Como, who previously had worked in restaurants and pizzerias in New Jersey. "It was an
interesting step. There definitely was a need for a place like this in the area from what I
saw and from what I heard."
So in February of this past year, Como made the move to Columbia and was soon
followed by partners and fellow New Jersians John Fredericks and Steve Riha, who all
decided to name their new business something catchy and casual.
"It's a home bar ? homey and very relaxed," Como said. "We decided to name it
Village Idiot because it's got a village atmosphere. And we're a bunch of idiots."
Fredericks explained the name further. "We want to be able to attract people who can
laugh at themselves. People who aren't serious."
One of The Village Idiot's main attractions is its New Jersey-style pizza. Sold by the
slice or by the pie, pizza is by far the place's best seller, Como said.
"Everything is homemade. We make our own sauce, our own dough and grind our
cheese," Riha said. "Everything is fresh."
A specialty of the house is its white pizza, which is made with several cheeses, no
sauce, Italian spices and, surprisingly, broccoli and spinach. Other menu items include '
calzones, submarine sandwiches and salads.
Since its opening on Sept. 1, The Village Idiot has steadily built up a crowd of regulars
and new customers, Riha said.
"We have a large variety of customers," Como said. "From college students to older,
professional people and families."
Waitress Caroline Nett, a business senior at USC who began working at The Village
Idiot soon after it opened, said the customers love the casual atmosphere.
"The types of crowds vary, but basicaly we have a dinner crowd and a late-night crowd.
Both are very laid-back," she said.
Nett said the reaction so far has been extremely positive. She even hears songs of praise
outside of work.
"It's funny because you go out and people recognize you and say 'Hey, you work at
The Village Idiot,"' she said. "This one guy came up to me and said he will go there until
the day he dies. That was great."
Village Idiot regulars David "Trashman" Gooldy and Brad Muller, members of USC's
Gamecock Rugby Club, said the place has become a hangout for the team:
"We've been going there since it began," said Gooldy, a biology senior. "The guys who
own it are good to everyone there."
Muller, a broadcast junior, said they especially appreciate The Village Idiot because the
owners are sponsoring the rugby club and the club spends a lot of time there before and
after practice.
"It's very laid-back ? like a recliner," Gooldy added.
Although pleased with the success of their pub and pizzeria, the owners said they are
looking ahead at expansion plans and other changes. They recently opened for lunch after
adding items to their menu, and they have several events planned in the next few weeks.
The owners are especially excited about Super Bowl Sunday, when they will feature an
Italian buffet, drink specials and plenty of TVs on which to watch the big game.
Como also has more ambitious plans for The Village Idiot, including possibly other
locations.
"I want to nut pizza slices all over Columbia." he said.
v The National Student
sratulations KA \ ISSSfSSgSZ
y of 99 public colleges and uni
T States while paying USC tuitio
New Initiates f how you 030 take advanta9e
call 777-6142 or visit the Edi
? Center at 1625 College Street fo
"-FM Hi
' r'' ATTENTION
ALL STUDENT ORGANI2
d TREASURER'S WORK:
Treasurer's Workshops will be held for a
organizations currently funded or intendin
Student Activity fee funds for the fiscal yea
All treasurers must attend a
^? Treasurer's Workshop
in order to be eligible to apply for fu
WORKSHOPS WILL BE.
Thursday. Ian. 24 3:30-5:00 vm R
-iL. Friday, Jan. 25 3:30-5:00 pm R
Monday, Jan. 28 7:00-8:30 pm R
Tuesday, Jan. 29 3:30-5:00 pm R
SP-93 j
So you say
This is a listing of the events
open to the public in the Columbia
area for the weekend of Jan.
25?Jan. 27.
The Golden Spur ? Russell
House. Tonight Barry Drake
will present the program "70s
Rock: The Good, The Bad, and
The Ugly" at 7 p.m. Admission
free with student ID. On Saturday,
Club Spur returns for
dancing.
Greenstreet's ? 1101
Harden St. Featured tonight, Chicago
Bob Nelson and the King
Bees. Cover is $4. On Saturday,
the Wild Men from Borneo.
Cover is $3. On Sunday, the
Super Bowl will be on the big
screen. No cover.
The Punchline ? 634
Harden St. Featured tonight and
Saturday, comedian James Gregory.
Shows at 8 p.m. and 10
n m Pnvp.r ic $19 Sfi R#?c*?rva.
r? * "" ?u
tions recommended.
Rockafellas ? 2112 Devine
St. Featured tonight, Egypt
with Uncle Mingo. On Saturday,
BOA with Imitation of Life. On
Sunday, free acoustic night
Koger Center ? Assembly
Street. On Sunday, Northern Sinfonia,
chamber orchestra from
Great Britain, will perform at 7
p.m. Tickets are $15 and $10.
Crackerjacks ? 1325
Longcreek Dr. Tonight, open until
4 a.m. On Saturday, eightpiece
dance band with four singers,
Black and Blue. Cover is
$3. On Sunday, Super Bowl
party at 4 p.m. You can guess
the score and win $1,000.
The Cockpit ? 922 Main
St. Featured tonight, Public
Ayes. On Saturday, The Throw
Stones. Shows start at 10 p.m.
Cover is $3.
Club 18 ? 1350 Rush
River Rd. Featured tonight,
Black Lung. Cover is $4. On Saturday,
live D.J. Daniel Pruitt.
"Cover is $3.50. Open 7 p.m. No
alcohol.
Columbia Museum of Art
? 1112 Bull St. "Carolina
Skies," a show at the Gibbes
Planetarium, will be playing at 2
p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and
Sundays. Admission is -SI for
students, senior citizens and military
personnel and $2 for adults.
Also, "Juggernaut," a show about
the earth's potential collision
with an imaginary planet, will be
shown at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturdays
and Sundays through
March 17. Tickets are $1 for
students. Exchange
Program
e 1991-1992 academic year,
le or two semesters at one
versities across the United
n. For more information on
of this unique opportunity,
jcational Support Services
r an appointment.
:ations
SHOPS
11 student
tg to request
Lr 1991-1992.
nding.
HELD:
H Room 327
H Room 327
H Theater
H Room 327