living here 2014

Living Here • A Special Section from The State, Columbia, South Carolina • www.thestate.com • June 26, 2014 • 32 • Living Here • A Special Section from The State, Columbia, South Carolina • www.thestate.com • June 26, 2014

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4 • Living Here • A Special Section from The State, Columbia, South Carolina • www.thestate.com • June 26, 2014

AT THESTATE.COMWe’ve got more Living Here online — including photo galleries and videos. Watch for additions all year through at thestate.com/livinghere

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LIVING HERELiving Here is a special section of The State newspaper, written for those who live in Columbia and the Midlands. This year’s edition emphasizes the kinds of experiences that make the Capital City and surrounding areas special — a place we’re proud to call home. We hope you find a few ideas here to add to your bucket list. Enjoy.

Sara Johnson Borton, President and Publisher, [email protected]

Mark Lett, Vice President and Executive Editor, [email protected]

Bernie Heller, Vice President of Advertising, [email protected]

Bryan Osborn, Vice President of Digital Advertising, [email protected]

Dawn Kujawa, Editor, [email protected]

Susan Ardis, Art Director, [email protected]

ON THE COVER: Kayakers ply the waters along the Congaree River. Photograph by Jeff Blake.


Christian Science is founded upon the healingprinciples of Christ Jesus, the Apostles andthe Prophets. Learn how you, too, can turnto God, divine Love, to meet all your needs.

Everyone is welcome to visit our Reading Room,to ask questions, to research prayer and healing,or to purchase Bibles, Science and Health withKey to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, thediscoverer and founder of Christian Science,literature, and music.

Also available for viewing are a number oftalks by members of the Christian ScienceBoard of Lectureship on the practicality ofChristian Science in our daily lives.

First Church of Christ, Scientist1114 Pickens StreetColumbia, SC 29201

(803) 799-8274Sunday Services are held at 10:30 a.m.Sunday School for young people up to

the age of 20 convenes at the same hour.

Wednesday evening testimonymeetings are held at 7:00 p.m.

Our Reading Room is also located at1114 Pickens Street and is

open Tuesdays and Thursdays from10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Website: christiansciencecolumbia.org

God is Love- I John 4:16


THINGS WE LIKE TO DOSo how do Midlands residents like to spend their time? Here, a sampling of activities adults in Richland and Lexington counties say they have participated in or attended over the past year.

Attending church (64.7 percent)Gardening (39.3 percent)Going to Riverbanks Zoo (35.5 percent)Going to the S.C. State Fair (30.6 percent)Swimming (26 percent)Attending high school sporting events (25.4 percent)Fishing (25.2 percent)Running (24.4 percent)Volunteering (24 percent)Bowling (18.5 percent)Circuit training (18.4 percent)Boating (18.2 percent)Bicycling (17.6 percent)Attending USC football games (17.2 percent)Going to a live theater performance (12.4 percent)Golfing (10.5 percent)

FUN FACTS: LifestylesBelong to a gym (17 percent)Own a cat (20.9 percent)Own a dog (45.7 percent)

SOURCE: Scarborough Research of the Columbia Market; 1,746 interviews. 2013 Release 2

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Tim Dominick/The StateGerard Murphy of Swansea fishes for trout and bream on the Congaree River. (View a

slideshow of some of Columbia’s beautiful places at thestate.com/livinghere).


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The look of Columbia has changed, but not the characterI was tooling along Harden Street, away from Five Points and down past the Allen and Benedict college campuses, when I noticed some faded graffiti on the concrete piling of a railroad trestle.

“SUNDANCE,” it said, in big, loopy, spray-painted letters.

I smiled to myself.“SUNDANCE” has been

there a long time and upon recently returning to my native home of Columbia after a 24-year absence, I found the graffiti oddly ingratiating. It might as well have said, “WELCOME HOME, SAL!”

Columbia and its environs have changed a lot since, in 1990, I headed for Georgia and enough red clay to make a Maytag washer wince.

There are a lot more people – in fact, more than 200,000 more folks in Richland and Lexington counties.

There are a lot more restaurants. Once sleepy little old State Street in West Columbia is now hopping with some great eating spots.

And there are a lot more things to do around here. Zip lines are strung around Riverbanks Zoo. Tapp’s Department Store on Main Street has turned into a remarkable arts center. The Vista is chock full of everything interesting, edible, eye-catching and entertaining.

Why, even the top of the State House has changed. It’s gone from green to brown. Hiller Hardware in Five Points has vanished, along with the red and white sign on its rooftop that advertised a “50 PERCENT OFF SALE ON

ALL BRASS ITEMS” for as many years as I can remember. Moe Levy’s on Assembly Street, where you could buy authentic sailor’s wool pants, is a place of the past. (Sigh.) Uncle Sam’s Showplace of Values on Two Notch Road, where penny-pinching mothers

took their children for back-to-school clothes shopping, is gone, too. (But no sigh here, since I absolutely hated those annual expeditions.)

Despite all that, some things around good old Colatown have remained

steadfastly and comfortingly the same. Take a recent experience of mine.

In the process of returning home, I had two wingback chairs reupholstered. They were my mother’s and were covered in far-too-formal-for-

me chintz fabric. I wound up at an upholstery shop on Farrow Road. It’s a rumpled kind of place, and I wondered at the friend who’d recommended I bring the chairs here.

Inside, the seasoned upholsterer, Levon Stack, took one look at my wingbacks and smiled. “I remember putting this chintz fabric on these chairs for your mama,” he said.

So, the fabric changes, but not the fine and meticulous work of Mr. Stack.

Maybe like my native home, too. The outside covering has changed, but not its inner workings, the stuff that gives a place its one-of-a-kind character.

The Cocks are still fighting for what their feathers are worth and while the State Farmers’ Market has jumped ship from its moorings on the south side of Columbia, the nearby State Fairgrounds

remains home to early-October fun, Fiske Fries, and that most familiar Columbia landmark — “the Rocket.”

But mention of the old Jupiter missile which stands sentry at the gates of the fair begs a most pressing question of mine: Does a woman with a syrupy Southern drawl still make announcements for folks to meet their “muther at the Rawket”?

I sure hope so, ’cause home just wouldn’t be the same without her.

— Salley McAden McInerneyMcInerney

Tracy Glantz/The StateThe former Tapp’s department store on Main Street is now an arts center.

About the writerSalley McAden McInerney is a former award-winning columnist for The State and has published her first novel, “Journey Proud,” which is set in Columbia in the early ’60s. The book is available at amazon.com.


AnimalInstinctPaintings by Shelley Reed

CHEER FORTHE HOME TEAM!Animal Mascots in the Collection

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Above: Shelley Reed, Tiger (after Landseer and Thiele) (detail), 2007, oil on canvas, 72 x 56 in.James Robert Granville Exley (English, 1878-1967), Discretion Is the Better Part of Valor (detail), 1907, Etching on paper, mat: 16 x 20 in, Museum Purchase in 1988.

1515 Main Street in Columbia, SC | 803-799-2810 | columbiamuseum.org

Presented by Joyce and George Hill

Presented by Arts Field of Interest at theCentral Carolina Community Foundation


We’re education focused. The University of South Carolina’s gracious Horseshoe anchors a higher education community that includes two historically black campuses, Benedict College and Allen University, a private women’s college, Columbia College, and a host of smaller learning environments, including the Columbia campus of Erskine Seminary and Midlands Technical College.

Distinctive schools. Among public school districts, some of the best in the state are here (Lexington 1, Lexington-Richland 5), along with award-winning magnet programs (Richland 2) and the unique Challenger Learning Center (Richland 1), named for the late astronaut and S.C. native Ron McNair. And there are distinctive private options, among them Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (tops for environmental education progams) and Hammond School. Charter schools, such as Provost Academy, also are emerging as options.

Nature shows off in April. Our beautiful spring gardens aren’t hidden away behind private walls and gates, either. On display for all to enjoy are fragrant magnolias, hot-pink azaleas and daffodils, bobbing in the freshening breeze. For more exotic flora and unconventional garden art, visit the botanical gardens at Riverbanks Zoo – and breathe deep.

And speaking of nature... We are home to the awe-inspring Congaree National Park, which has the largest remnant of old-growth floodplain forest in the United States.

Spectacular skies. Bomb Island, also known as Doolittle and Lunch Island, is home to one of the largest purple martin sanctuaries in the world. The birds roost there from spring to fall. Prime viewing times are dawn and dusk. Many boaters anchor nearby to watch.

We keep the nation rolling... From the tires that go on your car to the huge industrial tires that keep construction equipment moving, South Carolina produces them all and is the nation’s largest tire exporter. Most of them are made around Columbia and the Midlands, which boasts Michelin, Continental and Bridgestone plants.

... And the checks coming. Columbia is the world’s leader in insurance technology and processing. BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina alone processes about 1 billion claims a year and cuts checks amounting to about $1 billion a day in health care payments. The Capital City also is home to the top

two supplemental insurance providers, Unum’s Colonial Life and Aflac, whose group insurance headquarters is here.

We’re a military town — and proud of it. When the U.S. Army wants to turn young recruits into dedicated soldiers, more often than not it turns to Columbia’s Fort Jackson. The nation’s largest training base churns out 45,000 new soldiers every year. And the military’s influence can be seen throughout the city, from families streaming in weekly for graduation ceremonies to soldiers in fatigues dining in local restaurants. Fort Jackson, along with nearby McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover and Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, contribute billions in economic impact each year in the Midlands.

A sense of history. Take a walk down Columbia’s Main Street to learn about the civil rights history of the 1960s, when hundreds of black students protested segregation at lunch counters and in other

public places. There are now seven historic markers on Main Street and two at other locations that commemorate the struggle and remind people how ordinary citizens can institute great change simply by making their voices heard.

Beauty in our buildings. Downtown Columbia claims the largest collection of mid-century modern architecture in the state. Clemson-educated architects came here after World War II, imprinting the city with high-rise buildings that, in many cases, have remained unaltered. Since the 1950s are gaining in respect and nostalgia, some are suggesting the city needs to find a way to showcase its retro skyline. You dig?

We’re No. 1. Bleacher Report named South Carolina as the top state for college football, noting USC and Clemson are “regularly among the top teams in the country.” Don’t we know it.

— Carolyn Click, Dawn Hinshaw, Kristy Eppley Rupon

Here in Columbia, there are plenty of reasons to be proud

Tim DominickThe StateAzaleas in bloom on the University of South Carolina campus in spring. (View a slideshow of

some of Columbia’s beautiful places at thestate.com/livinghere)


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EXPERIENCE IT: FoodHere in Columbia, the experience can be as interesting as the food. From eateries with a view to cooking classes and ethnic groceries, there is much to enjoy.

People watching: A restaurant with a large front window or outdoor porch is the perfect venue for watching passersby while you dine. Some spots that fit the bill include Pawleys Front Porch in Five Points (for watching what’s on the porch as well as what’s passing by); Rosso Trattoria Italia, where you can sip some prosecco or a signature cocktail while watching the shoppers at Trenholm Plaza in Forest Acres. Enjoy the daily lunchtiime specials (especially Friday’s fish & chips) at Michael’s Cafe and Catering on Main Street, and the sidewalk seating at Gourmet Shop in Five Points is perfect

for lunch while you decide where next to shop.

Porches: Who doesn’t love a big, wide porch or deck? Back porches are the favorite places to have a meal or hang out with friends. Some of the best are Thirsty Fellow in the Vista; Pawleys in Five Points; World of Beer in the Vista; Jake’s in Five Points; and Rusty Anchor, with a view of the water in Chapin. And while not a dining establishment, River Rat Brewery has a killer deck and green space, just around the corner from Williams-Brice Stadium.

Porches — and pets: Some

restaurants, if there is outdoor seating available, will allow you to dine with your four-legged friends. I’ve seen pets at these places, but when in doubt, call ahead: Jake’s in Five Points, World of Beer in the Vista, Cafe Strudel in West Columbia, and Solstice Kitchen in Northeast Richland. Solstice will occasionally have Doggie Dinner nights.

Picnics: There are some wonderful outdoor spaces in and around Columbia where you can take a break from the office or enjoy weekends with the kids. Pack a lunch and head out to Mays Park in Forest Acres (there’s a sprinkler

fountain in the summer for kids); Guignard Park in Cayce (picnic tables and a walking path along the creek); and for even wider open spaces, try Saluda Shoals Park in Irmo and Sesquicentennial State Park in Northeast Richland.

The celebration of the Farm-to-Table movement happens year-round, whether it is in the form of a festival or special dinner. Check out these events: Harvest Week at Motor Supply Co. Bistro happens twice a year (spring and fall) and features a Meet the Farmer Happy Hour and

Tracy Glantz/The StateThirsty Fellow, in the Vista, has a great patio for outdoor dining.

FOOD CONTINUED ON PAGE 14


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special food and drink menus; the Tasty Tomato Festival at City Roots is usually in early to mid-July and features a contest for backyard tomato gardeners, a restaurant week where participating restaurants feature tomato-centric items on the menu and it all leads up to a celebration of all things ’mater on the farm in the Rosewood neighborhood. And speaking of City Roots, a must-do dining experience is one of the monthly Farm to Table Dinners that feature a guest chef creating a three- to six-course meal with fresh, local sustainable produce.

Craving seafood? There are three ways to approach seafood in Columbia. First, head out to a somewhat upscale dining experience like Blue Marlin in the Vista, advocates of sustainable seafood practices before they became popular. Second, go old school and order take out from one of the seafood markets where you can usually pick and choose a combo platter that can be broiled or fried (Palmetto Seafood on Gervais, Clifton Seafood on Decker, or DJ’s Seafood on West Beltline). Third, go classic, no-frills and steamed at Oyster Bar in the Vista. The bar is in the front and you may have to wait to sit at the U-shaped, totally unfancy oyster bar in the back that serves up oysters steamed or raw on the half-shell, shrimp and scallops. That’s about it. Oh, yeah, except for bowls of drawn butter and the house specialty Mother Shucker’s cocktail sauce.

Learn to cook: Did you know that Columbia has four cooking schools that regularly offer classes to the masses?

Let’s Cook Culinary on Assembly s led by Chef John Militello, who specializes in Italian cuisine and offers classes for couples, cooking camps for kids and a monthly Wild Women class. New to the school this year is a sponsored

culinary trip to Italy. Chef Francois

Fisera operates Fleur de Lys Home Culinary Institute on

Millwood and offers classic

French cuisine that is easy to reproduce

at home and gourmet tours of Europe. McCutchen House at USC has Saturday morning classes during the spring and fall semesters where participants get to create (and eat) four-course meals and learn about beer and wine

pairings. Charleston Cooks! at Cross Hill Market also features a hands-on teaching kitchen in the back of the retail establishment. Classes are held almost daily and range from basic knife skills to picnic planning to special occasions. They even have kids classes.

Bring it home: Sure, Columbia boasts a lot of supermarkets. But why not get out of your safety zone and wander through one of the many ethnic markets in town? Pick just about any storefront along Decker Boulevard to wander through. Hyundai Oriental Grocery & Gifts on Decker has been around for 20 years; Spices of India serves the St. Andrews side of town and Halal International in Boozer Shopping Center, also in the St. Andrews area,

provides Arabic ingredients (check out the fresh meat counter in the back with cuts of lamb and goat).

One extra dish: This one is a bit of a drive, but well worth it. If you want a chef’s table experience (where you sit and the chef decides what to serve you, usually a menu of four to six small plates, with or without wine pairings), head to Juniper in Ridge Spring. This unassuming diner-by-day turns into a white linen service for dinner Thursday through Saturday nights and Chef Brandon Velie creates a high-quality dining experience using fresh local ingredients. Check it out after an afternoon of antiquing in the area. 640 Main Street, Ridge Spring, (803) 685-7547

— Susan Ardis

THE DRINK EXPERIENCEIn the mood for a drink? You’ll find no shortage of places to get one. But if you’re looking for a bit of a city experience to go with your cocktail, we’ve got a few suggestions.

The Oak Table: The bar in this downtown restaurant is positioned in front of a wall of windows, offering patrons a drink with a view of the S.C. State House downtown, along with the pedestrians and cars passing along Assembly and Main streets. Try the Sugar & Spice Martini, which comes with the warning, “Not for the faint of tongue!”

Hampton Street Vineyard: This restaurant and bar has a big-city feel, with hardwood floors and street-level windows, where patrons can watch the sea of feet pass by. Get a glass of wine here and enjoy.

The Rooftop: As urban views go, it doesn’t get much better than the 17th-story bar atop the Sheraton in downtown Columbia. The view takes in landmarks below and the western horizon, breeze and sky. It’s popular, so expect some crowds.

Terra: You’ll always run into someone you know at this West Columbia eatery. You can get a glimpse of the Columbia skyline from the restaurant, while the small bar area serves up some good martinis.

Bourbon: This restaurant’s “old school” cocktail bar, as owner Kristian Niemi once described it, serves up varieties of Kentucky whiskey and other drink specialties. The setting is the historic Brennen Building on Columbia’s Main Street.

FOOD FROM PAGE 12

Tracy Glantz/The StateThe bar at Bourbon


EXPERIENCE IT: On the waterFrom raging whitewater river rapids to meandering black water creeks to the man-made water park at Fort Jackson, the choices for water recreation in the Midlands are broad —including the Broad River.

White water rapids: The section of the Saluda River from the Lake Murray dam to where it meets the Broad River includes numerous rocky shoals that, when water levels are high, create wild rapids. They’re ideal for canoes, kayaks and rafts, but novices should avoid the Mill Race rapids just north of Riverbanks Zoo, which can be treacherous at high water levels. Unfortunately, easy access on the river for the general public is limited until the Saluda section of the Three Rivers Greenway is built. Best to check with local outfitters for advice: adventurecarolina.com, palmettooutdoor.com, getyourgearon.com and

riverrunner.us.

Tubing on the river: The largest local tube rental companies launch downstream of Mill Race rapids, giving tubers a chance to go through a couple of less rambunctious rapids on the Saluda from the zoo to the West Columbia amphitheater. The cold water of the Saluda is ideal for cooling off in a tube during the summer. During rain-free weeks, the water level often is low and the trip takes a couple of hours. palmettooutdoor.com or adventurecarolina.com.

Columbia Canal: The city began allowing paddling on the canal a few years back,

launching from the north end of Riverfront Park. It’s flat water, hardly a thrill ride unless you freak out upon seeing one of the gators that sometimes take up residence in the canal in the summer. You’re more likely to see lots of turtles, fish and birds. This is a fun place for standup paddle boarding beginners before heading out to Lake Murray.

Congaree Creek: The creek winds from Charleston Highway near I-26 in Cayce, behind the new SCANA headquarters and then to the Congaree River near I-77. Despite that urban-sounding route, kayak and canoe paddlers will feel miles away

from civilization on the creek’s black water There are access points on Charleston Highway and on the SCANA entrance road off 12th Street Extension.

Cedar Creek: The main black water creek that winds through Congaree National Park draws paddlers from all over the world to see the massive trees and wildlife along its banks. Trees and large limbs felled by winter storms will make this trip more difficult than in years past, but that just adds to the adventure. Launch sites are at Bannister Bridge, just off Old Bluff Road, and South Cedar

File photograph/The StateThere’s no better way to enjoy the day than in a boat on Lake Murray.

WATER CONTINUED ON PAGE 18


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Creek Road. Check with the park about guided canoe trips. nps.gov/cong.

Fishing: Anglers can try any of the local waterways. There are stripers, smallmouth and largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish and crappie in most river sections. Because of the extraordinarily cold water coming out of the base of the Lake Murray dam, the Saluda offers the only trout fishery south of the mountains. Pond fishing is allowed at Sesquicentennial and Goodale state parks. Lake Murray draws major fishing events. If you don’t have a boat or want expert advice, there are many fishing guides who work the waters of Lake Murray.

Water Park fun: The only water park in the Midlands is on Fort Jackson. It’s for military families on the weekends, but it’s open to civilians Tuesdays through Fridays. The small facility features a large pool, two water slides and a lazy river. fortjacksonmwr.com/waterpark/

Best water view: The new ZOOm the River zip line at Riverbanks Zoo offers a unique aquatic vantage point as you race over the Saluda River. The nearly 1,000-foot trip drops zippers from high on the bluff on the botanical garden side of the river to the zoo side. It’s not cheap – $55 for general public, $40 for zoo members – but it’s unforgettable. thestate.com/2013/08/15/2921879/zoos-new-zip-over-river-can-overload.html#storylink=misearch

Dam walk: The pedestrian walkway on the Lake Murray dam is popular with recreational runners and walkers. It does offer a spectacular view of the river to one side – especially at sunset.

But the vehicles zooming past on the other side can be a bit off-putting. Park on either side of the dam.

Other walkways: The various sections of the Three Rivers Greenway have lured walkers,

runners and bicycle riders to the rivers and fostered a new appreciation of the region’s waterways. The best river sections are along the Cayce and West Columbia Riverwalks – easiest accessed on Alexander Road at Meeting Street in

West Columbia. The trail at Columbia’s Riverfront Park mostly follows the course of the Columbia Canal, accessed at the end of Laurel Street. The new Timmerman Trail in Cayce, accessed off the SCANA headquarters entry road on 12th Street extension, hugs Congaree Creek.

Spray pools: The Saluda Splash at Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Road in Columbia, is popular with kids and parents. The youngsters get to play in the whimsical spray-ground fountains. The adults can cool off in the shady areas surrounding the spray park.

Boating on Lake Murray: There are several public and private marinas on the 47,500-acre lake. If you don’t have your own boat, you can rent a pontoon for a day of cruising or a ski boat for a little more excitement. Go to lakemurrayfun.com/rental.shtml for a list of local boat rental companies.

— Joey Holleman

MEET BILL STANGLERVariety adds spice to Columbia area waterways

Bill Stangler is the Congaree Riverkeeper, which means he serves as an on-the-water watchdog for the Midlands’ rivers and streams. He knows these waterways well and appreciates them as much as anyone.

When you get out on the water in the Midlands, what’s your favorite place to go?The great thing about paddling around the Midlands is that we have so many options to fit whatever you’re looking for, from the seclusion and serenity of Cedar Creek or Bates Old River at Congaree National Park to the adrenaline pumping excitement of the Lower Saluda at high water. But, if I had to choose one place, it would be the confluence (where the Broad and Saluda rivers come together). You

get to experience all three rivers, assuming you take a few detours to explore, and if you’re lucky you can see spider lilies and bald eagles, run a few rapids, and maybe even catch a trophy fish.

What wildlife in or around the water makes you smile every time you see it?Again, there are so many choices, but my all-time favorite wildlife to see on the water are river otters, even when they wake me up by splashing water on me while I’m camping on a sandbar.

What is your major concern for the healthy future of our waterways?The biggest concern for the future health of our rivers are domestic wastewater issues. This includes the city of Columbia’s ongoing sewer spills as well as the numerous smaller wastewater treatment plants that regularly violate their discharge permits. Bringing all of these wastewater providers into compliance with the law is the most important thing we can do to protect our rivers.

More residents share stories about their neighborhoods, at thestate.com/livinghere.

WATER FROM PAGE 16

Stangler

File photograph/The StateThe Splash pad at Saluda Shoals is a popular spot for taking a

break from the heat of summer.


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EXPERIENCE IT: ShoppingColumbia has malls and national retailers, for sure. But there also are smaller stores, chock full of character — and good things to buy.

Ed’s Editions. With 40,000 books organized on shelves across two cozy rooms, Ed’s Editions on Meeting Street in West Columbia is one of the state’s largest used bookstores. On a rainy day, there’s no place better for plopping down in an overstuffed chair to read a chapter. The store specializes in South Carolina authors and hard-to-find titles.

Mast General Store. The building at 1601 Main Street that now houses the Mast General Store has seen a lot of life — and death — since the 1870s, serving as an undertaker’s parlor, a bar and, in the 20th century, Efird’s department store and Lourie’s

clothing store. Now Mast, with its lovely wood floors, is humming with locals and tourists enticed by its great

clothing and shoe selections, delicious candies, jams and sauces and home furnishings.

Winston’s Gift Shop. Need a cute or quirky gift? You’re sure to find something special or unique for the graduate, mom or dad or the newly married at this charming gift shop that shares space with a florist on Old Cherokee Road in Lexington. The store sells the range from elegant Nora Fleming Cheese & Charcuterie boards to sets of whimsical butterfly or bunny magnets. And if you’re lucky, you might even get to meet Winston himself -- a sweet black pup the owners rescued from Pets Inc.

SHOPS CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

File photograph/The StateTreats line the counter at Peanut Man.

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DRIVEdealer directorydealer directory

LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR?Find the right car for you.

TM

DodgelandDodgeland of Columbia

190 Greystone Blvd., Columbia, SC 29210803-799-1900Sales: M-Sat 9-9

Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat 8:00-1:30

TM

JTS CHRYSLER-JEEP-DODGE5215 SUNSET BLVD., LEXINGTON, SC

803-359-2501Sales: M-SAT 9-9

Service: M-F 7-6, SAT. 8-4

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JTs Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge5215 Sunset Blvd., Lexington, SC

803-359-2501Sales: M-Sat 9-9

Service: M-F 7-6, Sat. 8-4

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Galeana-Chrysler-Jeep-KIA180 Greystone Blvd.803-779-7300

Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat 9-6Service: M-F 8-6, Sat 8-12

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Carolina Chrysler Jeep Dodge891 Hwy 1 South Lugoff, SC

803-438-9160Sales: M-F. 8:30-9, Sat. 8:30-7

Service: M-F 7:30-6:30, Sat. 7:30-2:30

TM

Jim Hudson Ford(formerly Ben Satcher Ford)

1201 West Main Street Lexington, SC803-359-4114 or 1-877-294-2564

Sales: M-F 8:30-7, Sat. 8:30-6Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat. 7:30-3

TM

Classic Ford(Formerly Bob Bennett Ford)

I-26 @ Greystone Blvd. Columbia, SC (Zoo Exit)803-779-3673


TM

Lugoff Ford979 Hwy 1 South Lugoff, SC 29078

803-438-6124Sales: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 9-8

Wed & Sat. 9-6:30Service: M-F 7:30-6:30, Sat. 7:30-2:30

TM

TM

Jim HudsonCapitol Hyundai of Columbia

101 Newland Road, Columbia, SC 292291-800-258-1436

Sales: M-F 9am to 8pm, Sat 9am to 7pmService: M-F 7:30am to 6pm, Sat 7:30am to 3pm

www.capitolhyundai.com

Jim Hudson HyundaiGreystone Blvd.

803-799-1234 or 1-800-962-0684Sales: M-F 9AM-8PM, Sat. 9AM-7PM

Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat. 8-1

TM

Midlands Honda124 Killian Commons Parkway, Columbia, SC 29203

888-695-5814Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat 9-7

Service: M-F 7-7, Sat 7-4

TM

Jim HudsonBuick-GMC-Cadillac

4035 Kaiser Hill Rd Columbia SC 29203803-783-0110 or 1-800-922-5291

Sales: M-F 8:30-8, Sat 8:30-6, Sun ClosedService & Parts: M-F 7:30-6:30, Sat 8-5, Sun Closed

TM

Audi Columbia6301 Two Notch Road, Columbia SC 29223

803-786-6601Sales: M-F 9-7, Sat. 9-6


TM

McDaniels Acura/VW/Mazda501 W Killian Road, Columbia, SC 29203

803-786-6400Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat. 9-6


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Love Buick GMC100 Parkridge Drive Columbia, SC 29212

877-516-1158Sales: M-F 9-7, Sat 9-6

Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat 7:30-2


4035 Kaiser Hill Rd Columbia SC 29203803-783-0110 or 1-800-922-5291Sales: M-F 8:30-8, Sat 8:30-6, Sun Closed

Service & Parts: M-F 7:30-6:30, Sat 8-5, Sun Closed

TM




TM

BMW of Columbia5919 Two Notch Road, Columbia SC 29223

803-404-5400Sales: M-F 9-7, Sat. 9-7


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Love Chevrolet100 Parkridge Drive, Columbia, SC 29212

803-667-3877Sales: M-F 9-7, Sat 9-6

Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat 8-2

Capitol Chevrolet of Columbia111 Newland Road, Columbia SC 29229

803-400-8905Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat. 9-7


TM

TM

Herndon Chevrolet5617 Sunset Blvd., Lexington, SC

866-671-3718Sales: M-F 9-7, Sat 9-6


Honda Of ColumbiaHWY 378 @ I-20

4333 Sunset Blvd., Lexington, SC803-256-0156

Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat. 9-7Service: M-F 7-6:30, Sat. 7-4




TM

DodgelandDodgeland of Columbia

190 Greystone Blvd., Columbia, SC 29210803-799-1900Sales: M-Sat 9-9

Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat 8:00-1:30

TM

JTS CHRYSLER-JEEP-DODGE5215 SUNSET BLVD., LEXINGTON, SC

803-359-2501Sales: M-SAT 9-9

Service: M-F 7-6, SAT. 8-4

TM


803-359-2501Sales: M-Sat 9-9


TM



TM

Carolina Chrysler Jeep Dodge891 Hwy 1 South Lugoff, SC

803-438-9160Sales: M-F. 8:30-9, Sat. 8:30-7

Service: M-F 7:30-6:30, Sat. 7:30-2:30

TM

Jim Hudson Ford(formerly Ben Satcher Ford)

1201 West Main Street Lexington, SC803-359-4114 or 1-877-294-2564

Sales: M-F 8:30-7, Sat. 8:30-6Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat. 7:30-3

TM

Classic Ford(Formerly Bob Bennett Ford)

I-26 @ Greystone Blvd. Columbia, SC (Zoo Exit)803-779-3673


TM

Lugoff Ford979 Hwy 1 South Lugoff, SC 29078

803-438-6124Sales: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 9-8

Wed & Sat. 9-6:30Service: M-F 7:30-6:30, Sat. 7:30-2:30

TM

TM

Jim HudsonCapitol Hyundai of Columbia

101 Newland Road, Columbia, SC 292291-800-258-1436

Sales: M-F 9am to 8pm, Sat 9am to 7pmService: M-F 7:30am to 6pm, Sat 7:30am to 3pm

www.capitolhyundai.com

Jim Hudson HyundaiGreystone Blvd.

803-799-1234 or 1-800-962-0684Sales: M-F 9AM-8PM, Sat. 9AM-7PM


TM

Midlands Honda124 Killian Commons Parkway, Columbia, SC 29203

888-695-5814Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat 9-7


TM


4035 Kaiser Hill Rd Columbia SC 29203803-783-0110 or 1-800-922-5291

Sales: M-F 8:30-8, Sat 8:30-6, Sun ClosedService & Parts: M-F 7:30-6:30, Sat 8-5, Sun Closed

TM

Audi Columbia6301 Two Notch Road, Columbia SC 29223

803-786-6601Sales: M-F 9-7, Sat. 9-6


TM

McDaniels Acura/VW/Mazda501 W Killian Road, Columbia, SC 29203

803-786-6400Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat. 9-6


TM

Love Buick GMC100 Parkridge Drive Columbia, SC 29212

877-516-1158Sales: M-F 9-7, Sat 9-6

Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat 7:30-2




TM




TM

BMW of Columbia5919 Two Notch Road, Columbia SC 29223

803-404-5400Sales: M-F 9-7, Sat. 9-7


TM

Love Chevrolet100 Parkridge Drive, Columbia, SC 29212

803-667-3877Sales: M-F 9-7, Sat 9-6


Capitol Chevrolet of Columbia111 Newland Road, Columbia SC 29229

803-400-8905Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat. 9-7


TM

TM

Herndon Chevrolet5617 Sunset Blvd., Lexington, SC

866-671-3718Sales: M-F 9-7, Sat 9-6


Honda Of ColumbiaHWY 378 @ I-20

4333 Sunset Blvd., Lexington, SC803-256-0156

Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat. 9-7Service: M-F 7-6:30, Sat. 7-4

TM





TM


803-359-2501Sales: M-Sat 9-9


TM

TM

JTs KIA230 Killian Commons Parkway

803-509-5555Sales: M-Sat 9-9


TM

Galeana-Chrysler-Jeep-KIA180 Greystone Blvd.803-779-7300Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat 9-6


Land Rover ColumbiaI-26 @ Piney Grove Rd.803-731-7493Sales: M-F 8:30-7, Sat. 9-5

Service: M-F 8-6

TM

Wray Volkswagen Mazda655 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210

803-988-1000Sales: M-F 8:30-8:30 Sat. 8:30-8:30

Service: M-F 7:30-6 & Sat. 8-2

Jim Hudson Lexus328 Killian Road Columbia, SC 292031-800-277-0225, 803-754-9500

or 1-800-922-5291Sales: M-F 8:30-7:30, Sat. 8:30-6Service: M-F 7:30-6, Sat. 7:30-1

Service: M-F 7-6, Sat. 7:30-4

TM

Dick Dyer & Associates5825 Two Notch Road

Toll Free 1-800-509-3819Sales: M-F 9-7, Sat. 9-6

Service: M-F 7:30-6:00 Sat. 8:30-4:00dickdyeronline.com

Jim Hudson Scion970 Columbiana Dr., Irmo, SC 29063

803-407-5678

Dick Dyer Scion240 Killian Commons Parkway

803-786-4111Sales: M-F 8-9, Sat. 9-7

Service: M-F 7:30-7, Sat. 8:30-5

TM

Dick Dyer & Associates5825 Two Notch Road

Toll Free 1-800-509-3819Sales: M-F 9-7 Sat. 9-6

Service: M-F 7:30-6:00 Sat 8:30-4:00dickdyeronline.com

TM

Jim Hudson Toyota970 Columbiana Dr., Irmo, SC 29063

803-407-5678Sales: MF 9-8, Sat. 9-7


TM

Dick Dyer Toyota240 Killian Commons Parkway

803-786-4111Sales: M-F 9-8 Sat. 9-7

Service: M-F 7:30-7 Sat 8:30-5dickdyeronline.com

TM

Lugoff Toyota Scion878 Hwy 1 South, Lugoff, SC 29078

803-438-2772Sales: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 9-8 Wed & Sat. 9-6:30

Service: M-F 7:30-6:30, Sat. 7:30-2:30

TM

Fred Anderson Toyota of Columbia2136 Sunset Blvd.

West Columbia, SC 29169Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat 9-7

Service: M-F 7-6:30, Sat 7-4

TM

McDaniels Volkswagen440 Killian Road

Columbia, SC 29203877-385-4566Sales: M-F 9-8, Sat 9-6

Service: 7:30-6, Sat 7:30-4

Wray Volkswagen655 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210

803-988-1000Sales: M-F 9-8 & Sat. 9-8

Service: M-F 7:30-6 & Sat. 8-2

TM

TM

McDaniels Mazda440 Killian Road, Columbia, SC 29203

803-786-2215Sales: M-F 9-8 Sat 9-6

Service: M-F 7-6 Sat 7:30-4


Mr. Bunky’s. Mr. Bunky’s Store is an old-time meat market, country store and restaurant along the highway to Sumter in Lower Richland. Folks stop in for the nostalgia as much as the fresh-ground sausage. A landmark along U.S. 378 since 1981, the proper address is 10441 Garners Ferry Road, Eastover.

Tasty treats. Need a break after shopping? Stop by one of the many new Columbia-area bakeries that have opened in the past couple of years. The Silver Spoon Bake Shop, in an old house on Devine Street near Five Points, offers a sumptuous display of pastries and desserts. (The proprieter went to French pastry school, after all.)

Circa 1332. Nothing gets us in the mood to shop on a Saturday morning like a Bloody Mary and a good lookin’ man. At Circa 1332 on Columbia’s Main Street, they “make it an experience,” offering customers a cold libation and a tasteful assist in putting clothes together – starting with nice-fitting jeans. The shop recently began offering its own private label for shirts and casual sport coats, too, manager D.R. Granger said.

Coplon’s. Coplon’s bills itself as the “luxury supplier of the achingly chic in the Carolinas” and its Forest Drive location, in the heart of Forest Acres, boosts haute couture from fashion stars such as Bruno Cucinelli, Michael Kors, Lela Rose, and Jason Wu. Don’t forget jewelry, cosmetics and shoes as you bask in the luxurious shopping atmosphere.

Bohemian Home Furniture. There’s something about those Ekornes Stressless

chairs and sofas that make you want to drape yourself over the furnishings at Bohemian Home Furniture on Devine Street to admire the eclectic mix of furniture, rugs, lighting fixtures, accent pieces and art. Then you can amble over to Saluda Avenue in Five Points to try on some trendy clothes at Bohemian, the clothing store.

Gwen Rawls Shoes. Gwen Rawls fell in love with fine footwear in Italy and soon she brought that love to her native South Carolina with an Italian shoe boutique that could capture the heart of shoe-lovers everywhere. At Gwen Rawls Shoes, on Forest Drive in Trenholm Plaza, she’ll let you in on her favorite designers of shoes and purses. She also has a blog, which you can find at www.gwenrawls.com.

Old Mill. Hearken back to another era with a stop at the Old Mill on East Main Street in Lexington. Within the exposed brick interior of this old cotton mill you can find shops, salons, spas, and antiques enough to occupy you for a rambling morning and afternoon. Then stop off for lunch at the Old Mill Brewpub or the Creekside restaurant. A 40-acre pond and spillway adds ambiance as you dine.

Flea markets. Prefer to plunder and haggle? Side-by-side, open air flea markets in Lexington County might be just the place to find a second-hand treasure. The U.S. #1 Metro Flea Market at 3500 Augusta Road and Barnyard Flea Market at 4414 Augusta Road are great places for weekend people-watching, too.

Peanut Man. Feel like a kid again when you bite into a

candy apple or a Mary Jane from The Peanut Man. The store has grown from a cart set up in parking lots to three permanent locations in just five years. Find its delectable treats — from fudge to licorice — in Northeast Richland’s Village at Sandhill, on Lincoln Street in the Vista or on Dutch Fork Road in Ballentine.

Cromer’s P-nuts. This longtime Columbia gem bills itself as the “worst in town,” but here’s a secret: It’s got some of the best boiled peanuts and flavored popcorn you could ask for. Pick up a unique gift basket or try coffee or lunch at its newly added cafe on Huger Street, just off I-126.

— Carolyn Click, Dawn Hinshaw, Kristy Eppley Rupon

SHOPS FROM PAGE 20MEET EMILY BRADY

Emily Brady, 31, is a spokeswoman for SCANA Corp. -- and an avid shopper.

How have you seen shopping options change over the past few years in Columbia?“I think we’ve seen a shift over the last couple of years. The area has been attracting not only popular chains, but also smaller boutiques, such as Monkee’s on Devine Street and Copper Penny, which is so popular in the Charleston area, on Harden Street.” Throw in shops such as Lululemon setting up temporary shops to test out Columbia, and “it just kind of brings a nice balance of options for everyone. We’re moving in a positive direction, for sure.” While the Midlands

has more options now than it ever has, much of it is geared toward the younger demographic because of the abundance of college students. “We still need a bit more of a mature retail market, but we’re head and shoulders above where we were five years ago.”

What are you most excited about that is coming or recently came to Columbia? “I think I’m most excited about JCrew.” Now, Brady buys items online from the retailer, but that will change when it opens this fall in Forest Acres. “I’ll be able to drive a mile down the road to Trenholm Plaza and try things on rather than ordering online and hoping you like it.” The plaza also is getting an Anthropologie and regional retailer Scout & Molly’s. A fab’rik store also recently opened there.

What are some hidden gems that we have here in terms of shops?Devine Street is a longtime favorite for Brady, including shops such as Just the Thing, which recently expanded to include clothing, and women’s clothier VanJean. “I think it’s the personal touch that makes shopping in Columbia different.” Just the Thing, for example, carries higher-end clothing and accessories, but promotes deals to customers on social media to keep it affordable. Plus, “the owner is in there herself every single day. That sets it apart, and makes the experience fun. They even begin to know the taste of their clients” and might let them know when something comes in that would appeal to them.


Brady


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EXPERIENCE IT: Your events plannerMidlands residents love to have a good time. And, luckily for us, there’s something to do every week of the year. Here’s a sampling of some of the bigger annual community events in Richland, Lexington and Kershaw counties — just to help you get started.

JanuaryWorld Beer Festival: Lots of breweries and lots of different beers to sample make this a popular event.

Restaurant Week Columbia: A great opportunity to sample participating Columbia restaurants, with special menu items, promotions, packages and discounts on tap.

FebruaryLexington’s Race Against Hunger: A family friendly run that raises money for Lexington Interfaith Community Services food bank and programs to feed the hungry.

Palladium Society’s Annual Chili Cook-Off: Love chili? This event, a favorite for nearly 20 years, is your kind of place. Proceeds benefit Historic Columbia.

Mardi Gras: Lots of bands, a parade and more in the Rosewood neighborhood downtown.

USC opening day: It may be February, but opening day for Gamecocks baseball always sets the stage for spring — and a season of great baseball.

MarchSt. Pat’s in Five Points: Among the South’s largest celebrations of all things Irish, featuring live music on several stages, a parade, walk/run and more.

Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic: This hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation show is an outdoors lover’s delight.

Carolina Cup: High fashion, tailgating and horses combine for

spring’s kickoff event, at Springdale Race Course in Camden.

Run Hard Columbia Marathon: A popular event with a course that winds through downtown Columbia.

Smokin’ at the Farmers Market Commissioners Cup BBQ Cook Off and Festival: In a state known for great barbecue, this event gives the public a chance to sample some of the best at the State Farmers Market.

S.C. Cornbread Festival: Cornbread cook-offs and eating contests, live music, kids’ activities and more in north Columbia.

AprilColumbia International Festival: The world comes to Columbia with vendors, food, live entertainment and more at the Fairgrounds.

Midlands Plant and Flower Festival: Pick up a few blooms for spring at the State Farmers Market.

Runs — and more runs: ‘Tis the season for running,

and there are plenty of April events, among them the Ultimate Challenge Mud Run in Gaston; Quarry Crusher Run in Olympia; and Providence Heart & Sole Women’s Five Miler and March for Babies Walk, both fundraising events.

River Rocks music festival: Live music at Riverfront Park.

USC spring football game: Fans can get a sneak peek at the team during USC’s spring football game at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Party for the Planet and annual plant sale, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden: Another favorite for plant enthusiasts, set at one of the Midlands’ favorite places.

Sparkleberry Country Fair: One of Northeast Richland’s biggest events, celebrating the area’s agricultural roots.

Indie Grits: The festival includes film screenings, youth workshops, concerts, puppet shows for grown-ups, culinary

celebrations and gaming get-togethers.

Artista Vista: Stroll through galleries and enjoy great art in the heart of the Vista.

Runaway Runway: A spectacular fashion show that makes a statement ... about the need to conserve resources.Talented fashion designers turn trash into clothing – and put it on striking models to strut the runway.

MayOutdoor concerts: Free outdoor music events get into full swing this month, among them Five After Five in Five Points and Rhythms and Blooms at Riverbanks Zoo.

Garden tours: Two larger ones on tap in May are the Festival of Gardens, featuring Columbia area stops, and the Lexington County Master Gardeners Volunteers tour, with Lexington County area gardens.

Rosewood Crawfish Festival: Lots of crawfish to eat, along with live music and more in Rosewood.

S.C. Poultry Festival: Take a trip out to the small Lexington County town of Batesburg-Leesville for this family event celebrating poultry.

S.C. Book Festival 2014: This draw for book lovers, held in downtown Columbia, includes author talks, book-signings and more.

Forest Acres Festival: A family friendly event with rides, games and vendor exhibits.

Black Expo: This event includes

File photograph/The StateThe SC Book Festival is a chance for readers to mingle with

authors and find deals on thousands of books.


featured speakers, vendors, entertainment and more.

JuneStoryfest: An event celebrating reading for kids, with authors, storytelling, crafts and more, at the S.C. State Museum.

Southeastern Piano Festival: It’s hard to beat free music from talented musicians at this longtime piano event.

Lake Murray fireworks: Music, fireworks and a boat parade add up to a festive way to celebrate the Fourth.

Celebrate Freedom Festival & Concert: A patriotic event saluting the military.

JulyLexington County Peach

Festival: Held in Gilbert July 4, this event includes a parade, live entertainment and lots of peach-themed food and fun.

Torchlight Tattoo & Fireworks at Fort Jackson: In addition to fireworks at this favorite Fourth of July event, visitors often enjoy the patriotic music of the well-known 282nd Army Band.

Jammin’ In July Music Festival: A day of music in Camden, with lots of bands on tap offering something for nearly every musical taste.

AugustJubilee Festival of Heritage: A celebration of African-American art and culture on the grounds of the historic Mann-Simons site.

Main Street Latin Festival: Celebrating Latin and Caribbean music and food.

South Carolina Peanut Party: A celebration of the peanut, along with a parade, kids games, vendors, live entertainment and more.

USC football: Williams-Brice Stadium, and surrounding tailgate lots, come alive, with the Gamecocks’ kickoff of the football season, which typically occurs in August or early September.

SeptemberColumbia’s Greek Festival: There is dancing, vendors and music, but most folks come to downtown Columbia for the fabulous Greek food.

Irmo Okra Strut: Get up close with some okra specialties at this family friendly festival in Irmo.

Columbia Italian Festival: Italian favorites, kids’ games, live music and bocce ball are features of this festival.

OctoberUSMC Mud Run: A second mud run — still a challenge for the fittest.

Palmetto Health Foundation 5K Walk for Life: Among the largest walk/run events in Columbia, raising awareness and funds for breast cancer.

BOO at the Zoo: A celebration of Halloween and a kiddie favorite at Riverbanks Zoo.

SC State Fair: Folks from across the state come to Columbia for the rides, games, shows and, of course, the food.

Congaree Bluegrass Festival: Bluegrass bands, food and other family friendly offerings are on tap at this event in Cayce.

NovemberColumbia Blues Festival: Speaking of blues, this festival is perfect for kicking back and relaxing with live music.

Revolutionary War Field Days: Nearly 500 re-enactors are part of Field Days, which explores some of the key events that happened in and around Camden.

Main Street Ice: The rink in the plaza at Columbia Art Museum downtown opens Thanksgiving night for the winter season.

Governor’s Cup Road Race: Hundreds of runners participate in this race through downtown Columbia.

Colonial Cup: Camden’s Springdale Race Course is the setting for this steeplechase horse-racing event. It includes vendors, terrier trials, kids activities and more.

DecemberHoliday events: There are more events than we have space to list, but some of our favorite holiday events include the holiday lights at Riverbanks Zoo, Holiday Lights on the River at Saluda Shoals, Carolina Carillion parade, the various Nutcracker performances, and on New Year’s, EdVenture’s countdown for kids and the Main Street Famously Hot New Year celebration.

Crafty Feast: A juried crafts fair that draws vendors from across the Southeast. Those selected to sell their wares make cool new stuff, often reusing other cool stuff. It’s kind of like a storefront for etsy.com. craftyfeast.com

Events are subject to change. Keep up with all the events and

activities on tap at thestate.com/gocolumbia.

FAVORITE TRADITIONSSome of the Midlands most popular events are put on by the faith community — from lunch and learn series to food festivals, concerts, seasonal concerts and more. Best of all, they’re family friendly and affordable. Here are just a few.

The sounds of the holidays are everywhere — all it takes is a listening ear! Consider The Singing Christmas Tree at Shandon Baptist Church, which features a 30-foot tree, thousands of twinkling lights and 150 singers nestled in the branches (shandon.org). On the Fourth of July, take in patriotic music and an indoor fireworks display at the Celebration of Liberty at First Baptist Church in downtown Columbia (fbccola.com/liberty).

Washington Street United Methodist Church has been the venue since 2002 for the popular Christmas tradition, Sing Along Messiah. Here, the community comes together with area choirs and an orchestra to sing the oratorio penned in 1741 by George Frederic Handel. No musical experience necessary, but joy abounds. singalongmessiah.org

At The Big Nosh, organizers like to say you can blow a shofar, bite a knish, eat a latke, make challah bread, and dance the Hora. But, wait! There’s more in store at the spring festival at Tree of Life Synagogue on North Trenholm Road. The food, from brisket and chicken soup, to pastrami and pickled beets, offers a smorgasbord of delights for those who brave the crowds. bignosh.org

The Arts at Shandon offers a variety of arts-related events, with popular spring chambers series and performances by noted musicians at Shandon Presbyterian Church (www.shandon pres.org). And, just down the street in Shandon, the Unitarian Universalist Coffeehouse offers a great spot for listening to good and diverse musical performances (uucoffeehouse.org).


EXPERIENCE IT: Arts, culture, historyStately museums, community theater, neighborhood galleries. All we can say is, get out and enjoy.

New choices: Theater buffs tend to focus on offerings on stages in downtown Columbia — which are great — but there are other choices in smaller surrounding communities, too. New community theaters have debuted in Blythewood and West Columbia, joining older brethren in Chapin and Lexington.

Expanding the menu: Some theaters — mainly Chapin, Town, Trustus and Workshop — offer more than plays. They hold occasional cabarets and other events to broaden their appeal as entertainment centers and to increase income. Generally, these events are cheaper to attend than plays, tending to be informal get-togethers focused on music. Snacks and drinks are available sometimes at these gatherings, but the options vary considerably.

A peek inside the artist’s mind: Once a year, art lovers have a chance to pick up a map for a self-guided tour of artist studios. “Open Studios” – one of the biggest art-driven events in the Midlands – provides an insider’s look at how local visual artists do what they do. Sponsored by the 701 Center for Contemporary Art, the event has bounced around the calendar but is expected to return in April. Keep an eye on 701cca.org.

Walking art: Stretch your legs with a nice walk along the riverfront in Cayce and you’ll come upon a mural on one of the supports of the Knox Abbott Drive bridge. Columbia’s Ralph Waldrop painted a depiction of the steamboat Ruth II, and with a little imagination, it seems it could chug right down the Congaree River.

File photograph/The StateThere are many ways to enjoy ballet and other forms of dance in Columbia, from lessons for beginners to

stage performances by professionals.

ARTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE EXPERIENCEColumbia’s nighttime music scene is lively and diverse. Looking for a place to start? Here are three places we like:

Bill’s Music Shop & Pickin’ Parlor: The bluegrass shop and old-timey venue in West Columbia is a classic. Check out the Friday night bluegrass sessions. billsmusicshop.com

Conundrum Music Hall, on Meeting Street in West Columbia, offers an eclectic mix of bands, instrumentalists and performance art.

Tin Roof: This Vista restaurant and nightclub is making plans to renovate a warehouse into a concert hall and beer garden, a partnership with the Music Farm in Charleston. tinroofbars.com

Bill Wells’ hat and stool sit on a prominent spot onstage at Bill’s Music Shop & Pickin’ Parlor.

File photograph/ The State

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An artful education: For its third season, the Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College has ramped up its offerings. “Not only do we prepare people for jobs in our community, we’re preparing our community to be a place people want to live,” director Katie Fox said. That’s a tall order, but one the college seems prepared to fill this year with a concert by Mavis Staples, an evening with National Geographic photographer Jodi Cobb, the ’50s musical comedy, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” and a half-dozen more events in its signature series. The 400-seat auditorium at 7300 College St. in Irmo is intimate and affordable. (803) 407-5011

Chamber echoes: Artistic director Edward Arron returns to the Columbia Museum of Art for a 13th season of chamber music, bringing beautiful music to a burnished environment. Arron, a cellist, seems to genuinely enjoy bringing colleagues and friends to play in Columbia, as did his predecessor and mentor Charles Wadsworth. columbiamuseum.org or (803) 799-2810

Love dance? Don’t miss the opportunity to see principal dancers from the New York City Ballet perform April 17, 2015 at the annual “Ballet Stars of New York” at the Koger Center. It’s a highlight of the year – an evening with the top of the top in the professional ballet world. Digital brochures will be up by the end of August, setting up all the coming year’s dance performances at USC at artsandsciences.sc.edu/dance.

Historic Columbia offers year-round tours and special events that provide a window to the city’s rich past. In addition to touring the foundation’s properties, these walking tours will offers some surprising

facts about the city. Second Sundays: Historic Columbia offers strolls through some of

the city’s historic neighborhoods and buildings on the second Sunday of each month. On

Second Thursdays, you can walk through the city’s historic Elmwood Cemetery on two separate tours, “Secrets from the Grave” and “Moonlight Cemetery.” Cost is $12 adult and $6 children; Historic Columbia members get a discount. historiccolumbia.org; [email protected]; (803) 252.1770 ext. 23.

Community history: The S.C. State Museum offers a big picture of the state’s history, but several smaller museums offer residents of all ages a chance to learn more about the history of their communities — among them Cayce Historical Museum, Lexington County Museum and Sumter County Museum. The Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site is a great stop, expecially for students studying this period in history.

Off the beaten path: If you love art, be sure to discover the Midlands’ hidden gems, among them the Vista’s art galleries and museums and galleries on Columbia area college campuses. Best of all, most are free or charge only nominal fees.

— Tim Flach, Dawn Hinshaw

ARTS FROM PAGE 28

MEET MATTHEW DEGUIREMatthew DeGuire has appeared on Midlands stages for 26 years. At 56, he’s had a long theatrical career since starting in Mobile, Ala., as a second-grader. Away from the stage, he is co-owner of Travel Unlimited and a choir director at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. He talks about being an actor locally at theaters such as Act One, South Carolina Shakespeare Company, Town, Trustus and Workshop.

How difficult is juggling your job and avocation?It’s always a challenge juggling full-time work and theater – especially with another part-time job. As an owner of my business, taking some extra time off here and there usually works out for me. ... But doing a summer show means no

time for a vegetable garden this year. The hardest thing is managing afternoon church services on Sundays when we have a matinee performance. Those are usually pretty fast-paced shows. Yet, the difficulty balancing theater work and day-time jobs is always worth the effort.

Is Columbia a good theater town?In terms of opportunity, yes, absolutely! Columbia offers a wealth of theater for a city of our size. I’m amazed at the number of shows that are produced. ... There is so much here to offer.

Aside from theater, what arts experiences do you enjoy?Theater and work take up an enormous amount of my time, but I do also enjoy classical music and dance.


DeGuire

File photograph/The StateUntitled (Chandelier) by Dale Chihuly hangs in the atrium of the Columbia Museum of Art. The Chandelier is composed of 798

individual pieces of blown glass.


Train your brain. Midlands Technical College offers a slew of classes for those who want to take up a new hobby or enhance their job skills. Most night classes are held at the Harbison and Northeast campuses. Cost ranges from $50 for quilt-making to $1,500 for a network security class. midlandstech.edu/cce

Learn to play an instrument. The Columbia Arts Academy – now in Lexington, too – bills itself as the largest private music school in the state. It offers 30-minute classes in guitar, piano, drums, banjo, mandolin, ukulele and voice. Here’s the cool thing: They’re open seven days a week, early until late, and they teach all styles, from rock to country and classical. columbiaartsacademy.com or (803) 787-0931.

Growing a garden: Make Columbia a more beautiful place by becoming a master gardener. The Clemson Extension Service provides the 14-week course as an intensive introduction to horticulture, taught by specialists. It’s basic botany with an element of community service. At the end, you’re expected to donate 40 hours of work. The program starts in September in Richland County, January in Lexington County. For more on the Richland County program: Jackie Jordan,

[email protected] or (803) 865-1216, ext. 116; Lexington County, Vicky Bertagnolli, [email protected] or (803) 359-8515, ext. 127.

Volunteer: If you want a meaningful way to help your community but don’t know where you’re needed, here’s one suggestion: an AARP website called createthegood.org. It allows you to pop in your ZIP code to access a directory of volunteer jobs (866-389-5655; ask for Teresa). The United Way matches volunteers with projects at Uway.org, a site that includes the United Way’s bread and butter – health and human services groups – as well as nonmember agencies, one-time opportunities and regular commitments.

Language barrier: Become a citizen of the world through

EXPERIENCE IT: Classes, volunteeringWant to go back to school? Take up a hobby? Volunteer at a local shelter? Opportunities to better yourself – and the community – are numerous.

OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

File photograph/The StateThere are many opportunites

available for those who would like to volunteer in the

Midlands.


language. The University of South Carolina offers foreign language courses to the public through its “extended university” program. Choose from Chinese, Spanish, Italian, French, German and Arabic. Classes meet two nights a week to four days a week. (803) 777-8155

Finding serenity: Sometimes serenity can be found in a quiet pew close to home or in the peaceful Taize services offered at many Midlands churches, based on the contemplative services that emerged out of the monastic community of Taize, France. Sometimes it can be found in the simple walking of a labyrinth. At Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, a permanent outdoor labyrinth, based on the 13th century labyrinth at the Chartres cathedral, was constructed in 2001 and is available for contemplative walking and prayer. ltss.lr.edu/visitors-and-friends/seminary-campus/trinity-prayer-labyrinth

Find your Upward-Facing

Dog: Yoga has caught on like wildfire in Columbia. Places like Gold’s Gym and other large facilities offer a variety of classes to appeal to devotees of certain styles of yoga. Smaller yoga studios have popped up all over the Midlands offering low-impact classes of Hatha yoga to mid-range practices such as Vinyasa, which tie poses to the breath, and Ashtanga or Power Yoga which offers a sweaty, intense workout.

The great outdoors: If you’d like to go canoeing or hiking with a group, check out the Columbia Outdoor Adventure Network. It’s one of the largest “meet up” groups in the Midlands, with members who organize all kinds of outings. http://www.meetup.com/C-O-A-N/

Explore your roots: The Richland Library is the best place to get going on genealogical research. The staff of the local history room offers one-on-one assistance. Once you gather information, they’ll help you draw out a family tree. (803) 929-3402

— Dawn Hinshaw, Carolyn Click

MEET VALERIE STROMANValerie Stroman is a Richland County resident who began taking voice lessons at the Columbia Arts Academy in 2011 with her daughter, who has moved on to piano lessons.

Tell me about your decision to take voice lessons.I could not, as they say, hold a tune in a

bucket. That was my lifetime goal, to take a voice lesson.

Have you learned anything about yourself?Each lesson gets me there, and it’s much better than what it was. ... I’ve learned that I am able to persevere. My goal, it may take me awhile to reach it, but with perseverance and really having the hunger for it — even at my age, as an adult, you can attain anything you set out to do. And there’s always room for improvement, always.

Has this inspired you to try anything else?I’ve done some painting. It’s been years. I want to study it.


Stroman

OPPORTUNITIES FROM PAGE 31

EXPERIENCE IT: Our communitiesYou don’t have to live in a community to appreciate — or experience — it. So, take some Sunday drives and get to know the places that make the Midlands home.

CAYCE/WEST COLUMBIASometimes called the West Metro area, these communities are among the oldest suburbs of Columbia.

Both share some of the same urban characteristics as their bigger municipal neighbor across the Congaree River, but also maintain separate identities while forming the hub of Lexington 2 schools.

The past: Cayce was born out

of the coming of the railroads in the 19th century. At that time the area was known as Cayce Crossing, named for Billy Cayce, a prominent citizen. West Columbia originally was known as New Brookland after all the creeks in the area before adopting its current name in 1936. It began as a village mainly for textile mill workers. Both

COMMUNITIES CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

File photograph/The StateColumbia’s Main Street is the place to be Saturday mornings

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cities struggled with periodic flooding from the Congaree River until the Lake Murray dam upstream was completed 84 years ago. Now the riverfront is one of their most attractive features.

The future: Creation of a riverfront historic area as a park on the south edge of Cayce could produce geotourism. The arrival of online retailer Amazon and Nephron Pharmaceuticals is spurring commercial development along the south end of 12th Street.

Shop here: State Street in both cities is home to an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants.

Eat here: Grecian Gardens, on Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia, draws crowds for both lunch and dinner with Greek specialties in huge portions and friendly service.

Play here: The Riverwalk along the Congaree River is a regional magnet.

CHAPIN/DUTCH FORK/BALLENTINEChapin plays a much larger role than its population of 1,700 suggests, serving as the commercial hub of an area of more than 50,000 residents on the north side of Lake Murray.

Dutch Fork and Ballentine are a mix of suburban neighborhoods set amid farms with scenic views of Lake Murray and the Broad River. The areas are popular with residents who want a quasi-rural lifestyle, yet are close to downtown Columbia.

The past: Chapin, incorporated in 1889, is named after a prominent 19th-century businessman and civic leader. The Dutch Fork area gets its name from early settlers primarily of German descent. Ballentine, named after a one-time prominent family, is an unincorporated community that refers to itself as the gateway to Lake Murray.

The future: Creation of an industrial area for technology companies, proximity to Lake Murray, and some of

the highest-ranked schools in the state with Lexington-Richland 5 promise steady growth. Dutch Fork and Ballentine are starting to see commercial development .

Shop here: Lots of mom-and-pop places here. Alphabet Soup customizes fashion with personal embroidery, while Second Hand Time repairs vintage clocks.

Eat here: Catch-22, a upscale seafood restaurant, recently move here from Irmo.

Play here: Travel over winding country roads to nearby Dreher Island State Recreation Area to play on Lake Murray. The golf course at the Timberlake area eight miles south of town is the only one overlooking the lake.

DOWNTOWN COLUMBIAColumbia is a mess of contradictions that come from being a blue county in a red state capital.

We love barbecue and Krispy Kreme as much as home-grown tomatoes and fresh-caught fish.

We embrace Lindsey Graham and Nikky Finney. We love our zoo and we follow debates over at the State House because — let’s face it — that’s a zoo, too! And Lordamercy don’t get us started on Steve Spurrier and his Gamecocks.

But for all the contradictions, Columbia is a great place to call home. So while we may shake our heads over the politics and humidity, we’d appreciate it if outsiders would keep their opinions to themselves.

The past: The central business district extends from the Vista to the west, Main Street in the middle and Five Points to the east. The riverfront Vista, once filled with warehouses overlooking train tracks, has been transformed into a retail and entertainment hub. Main Street has made its own comeback in recent years, energized by new restaurants and shops, a Saturday farmers market and creative endeavors centered around the Columbia Museum of Art and Nickelodeon movie house. Five Points, the city’s first suburb, is a beloved village with shops, bars and restaurants catering to college students. The “five” in Five Points refers to the spokes of its central intersection, where Harden, Devine and Santee meet.

The future: City government is pinning its hopes on the redevelopment of a 165-acre, state-owned tract downtown a private developer is expected to buy soon. The centerpiece will be a minor-league baseball park, surrounded by a hotel and shopping and housing opportunities that have not yet taken shape.

Shop here: Artists have given new life to the historic Equitable Arcade in the 1300 block of Main Street, with its beautiful Italian tile work


COMMUNITIES FROM PAGE 32

Tracy Glantz/The StateThe Paradise Cove in Chapin, on the shore of Lake Murray.


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and second-story balconies. They’ve opened studios behind sliding-glass doors, making it a fun place to window shop even when the artists aren’t at work.

Eat here: Cali’s Cafe, a luncheonette at 1124 Taylor St. near Main, serves up healthful smoothies and vegetarian fare but also offers a delicious chicken salad and popular salmon sandwich. Open Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (803) 629-7471.

Play here: The State House grounds are beautifully manicured. The property varies from shady to sunny with lots of monuments in-between (almost too many, to be frank). And, it’s got a great history. The various buildings that housed the legislature between 1790 and today survived fire, deterioriation, a changing cast of architects and

Civil War. The building that now stands bears the marks of shelling by Union Gen. William T. Sherman but was finally completed in 1903.

FOREST ACRES/ ARCADIA LAKESForest Acres and Arcadia Lakes are an oasis of trees and small lakes, among Columbia’s earliest suburbs and close to downtown. Forest Acres is home to a number of young families, drawn to the strong core of Richland 1 schools in the community and large home lots, while Arcadia Lakes draws young families and retirees alike, who enjoy the nature and views on the water.

The past: Before the Civil War, the area became attractive as a high spot, sandy and “malaria-free,” where the wealthy could build summer homes east of Columbia. At that time, a natural spring bubbled up on Quinine Hill,

near what is now the northwest corner of Forest Drive and Beltline Boulevard. People would collect the water, believing it contained quinine to protect their health.

The future: Trenholm Plaza is where it’s happening. Clothiers like Jos. A. Bank and Ann Taylor Loft are here, with two national retailers — J. Crew and Anthropologie — coming soon. The shopping center also is home to popular markets and small eateries like Hooligan’s deli and Rosso trattoria.

Eat here: Pasta Fresca on Forest Drive used to be a quirky hole-in-the-wall eatery where customers dined cheek-to-jowl and chefs tossed together homemade pasta and delectable sauces amid a frenzy of flames and footwork. Now in a new airy space on Forest, near Trenholm Road, it’s more uptown with an expanded menu, fancy drinks and jazz on

Tuesdays. But the bruschetta and Pasta Fresca ravioli are still to die for, not to mention the pasta and seafood specialities of the day.

Shop here: MACK Home, in Trenholm Plaza at 4840 Forest Dr., Suite 12, offers a feast for the eye with its showroom of seating, lighting, artwork and accessories. The 5,000-square foot showroom seems intimate with its array of interesting offerings, and owners Marnie Clayton and Anna Kemper offer design services as well.

Play here: Like miniature gems, Forest Acres’ three parks offer respite for walkers and playground equipment for youngsters. Citadel Park is known for its iconic dinosaurs on a spring, while Quinine Hill Park has walking trails. Idalia Park is the tiniest but

Tracy Glantz/The StateForest Acres and Arcadia Lakes, early suburbs of Columbia, are known for trees and lakes.




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LAKE MURRAYOnce a major source of power for the Midlands, the lake is now a major recreation area and home to several sporting tournaments.

This in-town resort mixes pricey waterfront mansions with older and smaller weekend getaways Some areas are remote, making for long commutes over narrow winding roads.

The past: The lake is named for William Murray, an engineer involved in the design and creation of the dam. Lexington Water Power Co., today known as SCE&G, created the 47,500-acre lake to generate electricity. The lake and dam were under construction from 1927-30. About 100,000 acres was purchased in a Saluda River valley to build the dam and the lake from more than 5,000 families. During World War II, military bomber crews from what was Columbia Air Base, now Columbia Metropolitan Airport, used the lake for bombing practice.

The future: Much of the shoreline is likely to remain residential. Limited commercial growth is starting to sprout in some areas a few miles from the waterfront.

Eat here: The Rusty Anchor at Lighthouse Marina is a long-time favorite, while Liberty on the Lake at Lake Murray Marina is trendy.

Shop here: The lakefront is virtually all residential, but many of the marinas that dot the lake are full of character and great places to stock up on items for boating and fishing trips.

Play here: Tours by boat on the Southern Patriot and Spirit of Lake Murray occur year-round. Trips on each are especially

popular to view the purple martins that roost on Dootlittle Island in mid-summer.

LEXINGTONOnce a sleepy small town, it’s become a steadily growing community during the past 30 years.

It’s now Columbia’s largest municipal neighbor, with more development expected because of proximity to Lake Murray and it’s top-rated schools in Lexington 1, among the best in the state.

The past: The town has been a commercial and political center since becoming the Lexington County seat in 1820. It has bounced backed from many disasters — it was virtually destroyed by Union forces in 1865, endured major fires in the early 1900s and recovered from a tornado that skipped through its center in 1994. It’s a rapidly growing

suburb with ambitions to become bigger while keeping a small-town atmosphere.

The future: Town leaders expect steady growth that will double the population of 18,000 residents over the next two decades.

Eat here: The Farmer’s Shed is a family owned produce market and restaurant outside downtown Lexington limits. It’s closed on weekends but is worth the trip for lunch, where Southern specialities are served up.

Shop here: The Shoppes at Flight Deck is a small shopping center with art deco decor and modern offerings, while Consumer Feed and Seed has a general-store feel amid offering an up-to-date selection of garden and pet supplies.Play here: Virginia Hylton and Gibson Pond Parks are oases in the center of town. Pet

owners can let their pets romp at the Paw Park.

NORTHEAST RICHLAND Once a sleepy rural outpost a few miles from the heart of Columbia, Northeast Richland has turned into a sprawling economic engine for the region and a place that many Columbians now call home, thanks to lots of housing options and Richland 2 schools, known for their array of magnet program offerings. There is still bucolic landscape, and two beautiful expanses of green at Sesquicentennial State Park and Clemson’s Sandhill Research and Education Center.

The past: Development in Northeast Richland — an area once known for agriculture and farming — began in the 1960s, when developer Edwin Cooper paid the U.S. government $100 an acre for the land known today as Spring Valley. Since then, growth has steadily been marching up Two Notch Road, toward the Kershaw County line.

The future: Growth will continue, with more development stretching toward the small town of Blythewood, where residents prize the area’s rural feel.

Eat here: Solstice Kitchen and Wine Bar on Sparkleberry Lane offers up New American cruisine with a focus on the local. Their specialty menus change with the seasons, featuring many locally grown ingredients.

Shop here: The Village at Sandhill, Clemson and Two Notch roads, is at the heart of Northeast Richland. The walking mall includes flagship stores such as Belk and J.C. Penney, as well as more eclectic choices such as Ann Taylor Loft, Palmetto Moon and Wild Birds. Teen choices include American Eagle and Aeropostale. The Plex on site, featuring a trampoline park, is a


COMMUNITIES FROM PAGE 36MEET SALIM KHALILSalim Khalil lives in Hope Ferry Plantation in Lexington.

How long have you lived in Lexington?14 years

What’s the best thing about living in your community?

It is a very family friendly community where education, commerce, and recreation are all important. I enjoy the fact that I know my neighbors’ names and they know mine — we do life together. We are in a sweet spot with easy access to Lake Murray, Columbia, and the interstates, but our people are what makes the community a great place to live.

What has changed most about the community in the years that you have lived there?There has been a great deal of commercial development throughout the Lexington area. I don’t have to leave the area for anything I need which is nice, but it also means there have been many new neighborhoods and more traffic. There have also been numerous new schools built. My children have or will be attending elementary, middle, and high schools that did not exist when we moved here.

What are three great hidden finds in your community?The spillway at Gibson Pond Park, the Lexington County Museum, and my wife likes The Haven coffee shop.


Khalil


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Play here: Sesquicentennial State Park on Two Notch Road is just minutes from the hustle and bustle of malls and restaurants but it offers an oasis of lush forest and greenery and plenty of things to do, including overnight camping. There are playgrounds and picnic shelters, hiking trails and mountain biking trails. Boats are allowed on the 30-acre lake and there are small boats for rent, along with canoe and kayak rentals.

RURAL OUTPOSTSOuter Lexington County: Batesburg-Leesville is the market center of the largely rural western edge of the county, with some shops still closed for a half-day on Wednesdays and Saturdays. County leaders are promoting

development around the State Farmers Market in Dixiana.

Southeast Richland: Two-lane roads pass by pastures and farmhouses on the way to the Congaree National Park, with its boardswalks, towering Cypress trees and synchronized fireflies. Lower Richland is home to Cook’s Mountain, too, one of the area’s most significant natural landmarks, graced with wildlife.

Elgin: Love your volunteer firefighter by supporting the annual Catfish Stomp the first weekend in December. This year’s is the 40th, which follows a Thursday evening community Christmas tree lighting, a Saturday morning parade and fried catfish and catfish stew. While Elgin is known for its small-town flavor, it’s just a short hop to the Village at Sandhill.

— Tim Flach, Carolyn Click and Dawn Hinshaw


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MEET JOHN MONROEJohn Monroe remembers Northeast Richland when it was mainly populated by farmers. As a former Richland County Council member and founder of the Sparkleberry Country Fair, he celebrates the area’s rich heritage even as he salutes the changes all around him.

What do you love about living in Northeast Richland?Everything. I’ve lived here 74 years and I was born actually and raised on the same farm I still live on. I’ve seen the area grow from 1,000 people to over 100,000. I feel like we are in the country because we have the land surrounding us but within a mile behind us is Woodcreek Farms with million-dollar homes. ... It’s a very diverse area.

Do you think the influx of new residents into the area is changing the character of Northeast Richland?I don’t know how many nationalities are represented in Richland 2 but it was about 40 different countries a few years ago. That is one reason I started the Sparkleberry Fair to help bring the community together. We wanted to keep that flavor of how it was years ago plus the new more modern outlook. I think the community needs things to rally around.

What are three hidden gems in Northeast Richland?Little Pigs Barbeque (Alpine Road); Sesquicentennial State Park (Two Notch Road); and Clemson Sandhill Research and Education Center (Clemson and Two Notch roads).


Monroe


Help…

Lutheran Homes’Caregiver SolutionsAre you a caregiver for an older adult who isnewly diagnosed or chronically ill, recoveringafter a hospital stay or in need of therapy?

Many families may be unprepared to makedecisions on unfamiliar topics such asretirement living, in-home services, long-termcare, rehabilitation, or end-of-life care.

When you can’t do it alone,Lutheran Homes understands older adultneeds and helps families balance careresponsibilities by providing education andreferral to resources in the Midlands:

Dad needs his pills.

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Mom can’t be alone.

BeWell Home Services803.251.4663

Rice Estate • NE Columbia803.691.5720

the Heritage at Lowman • Chapin/White Rock803.732.3000

Lutheran Hospice803.461.0456

Let Lutheran Homeshelp you continue caring.LutheranHomesSC.org

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Come visit any of our neighborhoods throughout the Midlands and see what

makes Essex truly exceptional.For more information call

844 456 2020. Or visit us online.

IRMO/CHAPIN 1 The Preserve at Rolling Creek – $170’s

LEXINGTON 2 Foxchase – $230’s 3 Turner’s Pointe – $370’s 4 The Oaks at Summerlake – $250’s 5 The Enclave at Silver Creek – $200’s 6 Carrington Place – $500’s 7 Orchard Pointe – $230’s 8 Larkin Woods – $230’s 9 Tri-Springs – $160’s10 Hallman Meadows – $160’s11 Pisgah Flats – $200’s12 Hampton Park – $170’s

13 Persimmon Hill – $110’s14 Manchester Park – $130’s15 Copper Blu� – $170’s16 Manors at White Knoll – $150’s17 Indian River – $220’s

NORTHEAST18 Abney Hills – $210’s19 Cobblestone Park – $400’s20 Hunters Run – $210’s21 Lincrest – $220’s22 Rivers Station – $140’s23 Essex at LongCreek uClub Colony – $370’s uDeer Creek – $190’s uFox Meadow – $220’s uHeritage Forest – $240’s

24 Essex at Lake Carolina uAshland Downes – $310’s uAshland Falls – $220’s uAshland Grove – $160’s uPinnacle Ridge – $140’s uWaterford Corners – 180’s25 Winchester – $150’s26 Woodcreek Farms uSweetbay – $480’s uWoodcreek Crossing – $300’s27 Kelsney Ridge – $180’s28 Wedgwood – $130’s29 Saddlebrook – $130’s30 Allan’s Mill – $120’s

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Find Your One of a Kind Dream HomeEveryone’s Dream is Different. So is Every Essex Home.

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