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This Week In USC History February 1, 1999 - BJ McKie broke Alex English’s .scor ing record for basketball. trnck Wednesday, February 2,2000 "urban Excursions «A look at some of the lesser-knovJn treasures ofboWntoWn Columbia by Brad Walters Managing Editor Often overheard when walking around campus: “Columbia is so boring! There’s nothing to do in this city but go to the mall or go to the movies!” The sights around campus can get pretty old, pretty fast - especially if you don’t have a car. And we all know there isn’t a movie theater or shopping mail within several miles of campus. But all it takes is a lit tle exploring (and the time and willpower to walk distances like the ones your grandparents used to walk to get to school in the snow) to find that there are plenty of hidden treasures right here in the urban sprawl of Columbia’s center city. Last summer I spent many a day walking and biking around Columbia, and what I discovered surprised me. Next time you find yourself looking for something to occupy your time, travel (by car or by foot) to any one of the following nearby destinations. 'PtnLay 'Park If you’ve driven down Assembly Street, you’ve seen Fmlay Park. Its entrance is marked by a large foun tain that spills water into a set of cascading waterfalls. Elevated a few feet above the fountain are a semi circular set of swinging benches. A seat'on the swings provides a panoramic view of downtown Colum bia’s skyline that you won’t get in your car. A walk down the woodsy steps from the benches leads to a playground (what better place to relive child hood memories?) and a manmade lake. On the other side of that lake is a huge open field, made especially for taking that special someone for a picnic or just to get some sun. It’s especially nice to go there near sunset, as the city lights start to come into view, but don’t stay too much later unless you want to risk getting mugged The park is at Assembly and Laurel streets. While I’m in the vicinity, I’ll mention the Richland County Library, right across the street from the park. Anyone who’s been stuck in the undeiground stacks of Thomas Cooper Library knows it’s not the most inviting place to study or do research. The county library, built less than 10 years ago, is more spacious and less encroaching, even if it’s not quite as convenient. Take a trip out there if you prefer to be able to see civilization while you work. ‘%[\7erfront 'Turk Perhaps the best-kept secret in the downtown area is Riverfront Park. The park s entrance is at the end of Laurel Street, on the downtown side of the Congaree River. The park basically consists of a two-mile walking trail up the riv er, but what awaits at the end of that trail is a beautiful sight indeed. After crossing a short walking bridge across the old Columbia Canal, the paved walking trail begins. As you begin your walk up the trail, you can see where the Broad and Saluda rivers merge on your left to form the Congaree. Along the first part of the trail are several large open spaces and benches where you can rest or take in the sights and sounds of nature. A short stroll ahead will lead you underneath the 1-126 bridge, providing some unique views (and sounds) of one of the main gateways into Columbia. Soon the trail turns into all dirt and pebbles as it winds alongside the woods and the canal. If you can make it to the end of the trail’s second mile, the reward awaits: You can sit at the edge of the peninsula where the Broad River splits with the canal and listen to the sound of rushing water as it cascades down the dam right beside you. Truly a relaxing place to read, sit or study after a stressful week of classes. If you’re especially adventurous, you can walk across the dam and explore the woods on the other side - but it’s probably best not to do that unless you re with company! j\A.ain Street Much closer to campus is another little-known area that, like Five Points and the Vista, offers lots of shopping and dining. But unlike its more contemporary counterparts, a walk up Main Street also offers a glimpse into Columbia’s past. Before Assembly Street was widened, Main Street (long ago known as Richardson Street) was one of the main thoroughfares of downtown Columbia. Starting off at Gervais Street and working your way north along Main, the old signs scream out at you. Some, like the huge Kodak Camera sign, have been around for almost a century. As you continue across Lady and \fehington streets, you’ll see a mixture of decades-old buildings (like the Barringer Build ing; when built around 1910, it was one of the tallest buildings in the Southeast) and mod em skyscrapers (including three of the five tallest office towers in South Carolina). Along with the usual chain restaurants such as Atlanta Bread Company and Schlotzsky s Deli, you 11 find unique eateries like the Capitol Restaurant. It’s not somewhere you’ll want to go out of your way to see on a regular basis, but if you haven’t seen or experienced that area yet, you’re definitely missing out on a piece of Co lumbia’s past. vhancon 0 I was fortunate enough to have a bike over the summer, and I rode it frequently for ex ercise. Because the mass of cars on the downtown streets can be unfriendly to bikers (and be cause city streets aren’t too much fun to ride on anyway), 1 ventured east of campus and discovered Shandon. The best thing about Shandon isn’t that it has anything particularly fun going on, but, like the parks I’ve mentioned, it’s just a nice, quiet area that provides a much-needed break from the noise and stress of campus. The homes in the area range from modest to quite large - the temporary Governor’s Mansion being an example of the latter. So especially for those of you who brought the bike to school, I suggest riding along Wheat Street from campus straight through Shandon. For some of you, it might remind you of what growing up was like - seeing children playing on the streets and fathers mowing the grass. For others, a trip through Shandon might lead you to the house you and your friends want to move to next school year. Ether way, it’s worth a trip. c "Trustus "Theater I’ll admit, I didn’t discover this one on my own. Ann Dreher, my theater appreciation teacher several se mesters ago, mentioned this place, and going there for one of their late-night shows was one of the more en joyable experiences I’ve had in a while. Although they have mainstream, more conservative shows that start at 8 p.m., the late shows are especially a treat to watch - even if you don’t consider yourself a theater fan. They start at 11 p.m., and their subject matter is risque, to say the least. One show, starting Feb. 11 at the theater, is described on Trustus’ Web page as follows: “There’s a scandal at the North Pole. Vixen is filing a sexual harassment case against Santa. Will the other reindeer back her up... or was she asking for it?” Even if you’re not required to visit Trustus to satisfy your THSP 200 requirement, it s somewhere to turn if you need to satisfy late-night boredom. Visit them at the corner of Lady and Pulaski streets, or go to www.trustus.oig for more information. -• agsataaamffi-•»...“.. Travis Lynn Photo Editor Riverfront Parfc has a two-mile trail bordered on one side by trees and on the other by water. Finlay Park in downtown Columbia offers a natural setting where you can climb rocks around waterfalls to see a panoramic view of the city's skyline. The park also has swings, a playground and plenty of open space. Ann Marie Miani EtCetera Editor Main Street, with its shops, restaurants and old buildings, is a good place for entertainment, as well as for a trip into the past. Campus Notes Student Organization Fair rescheduled for today on RH Patio The Student Organization Fair has been rescheduled to 11 a.m. - 3p.m. today on the Russell House Patio. For more in formation, contact the Campus Activi ties Center at 777-5780. Meeting of BOND moves to today The Brothers of Nubian Descent meet ing has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. to day in the Russell House, Room 302. BOND promotes personal development, cultural heritage and fellowship among African American males. For more in formation, call Marc Himes at 7774330. Philosophy department to hold colloquiums The Department of Philosophy will spon sor a colloquium by Helen Cullyer, “Aris totle’s Moral Hero in Context and Out of Context,” at 4 p.m. Thursday in the Nursing Building, Room 133. There will be a reception at 3:30 in the Welsh Hu manities Office Building in Reading Room fil 5 A colloquium by Mary Hawkesworth, “Democratization: Reflections on Gen dered Dislocations in the Public Sphere,” will be at 4 p.m. Friday in Gambrell Hall, Room 005. There will be a reception at 3:30 in the Welsh Humanities Office Building in Reading Room 615. Columbia City Ballet performs Swan Lake The Columbia City Ballet will be per forming Swan Lake at the Koger Center on Feb. 4-5. For ticket information, call Sydney C. Miller at 799-7605. Drop-In Center offers nutrition consultations Nutrition and exercise consultations, per cent body fat estimations, blood pressure readings, and more are offered by peer health educatois in the Open Door Drop In Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mon day through Friday in the basement of the Student Health Center. For more in formation, call Grace Ramirez at 777 8248. Presbyterian Student Association continues luncheon series The Presbyterian Student Association will sponsor a luncheon from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. The speech during the lunch, “The Challenge - Finding our Hu man Limitations,” will be offered by Dr. Paul Jersild. For more information, call 799-0212. Red Cross Adult CPR course to be held in Blatt P.E. Center Health and Wellness Programs will offer an American Red Cross Adult CHI course from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. FA. 17 in the Blatt P.E. Center. The class costs $20. To reg ister, call 777-6518. International Institute to host lecture at USC Lynn Weber, the director of women’s studies at USC, will be the featured guest speaker for the spring scholar lecture of the International Institute for Human Un derstanding. The lecture will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 10 in Room 402 of the College of Nursing. The program is called “A Conceptual Framework for Under standing Race, Class, Gender and Sexu ality.” Call Becki Dangerfield at 7”' 9505 to make reservations for the lect Contra dancing comes to Gallery 701 Traditional dancing from New England with caller Barry Dupen and live music by Cabin Fever will be from 8 to 11 p.m. Feb. 12 at Gallery 701 at 701 Whaley St. A workshop for new dancers will begin at 7:30 p.m. All dances are taught, and no partner is necessary. Cost is $5. Call Columbia Traditional Music and Dance at 796-8935 with questions. Briefs for Campus Notes can be submit ted to EH333. Please include a name and phone number. 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