The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 02, 2000, Page A8, Image 8
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. We can't promise to run
everything, but we can promise to tty.
■ CORRECTIONS
The Gamecock strives to report the facts
correctly and responsibly. If you come
across any inaccuracies in our reportage,
please let us know.