2 COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN
O C T O B E R 2009
www.columbiametro.com
COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN 3
CONTENTS Volume 20 Number 4
38
Contents Features 38 The Art of Party Dressing Outfits that will make you Best in Show By Anne Postic 42 Behind the Curtain Taking a look behind the scenes of local theatres By Chuck Walsh 45 Title for Arts Calendar Subtitle for arts calendar Compiled by Sarah Pattereson
42
Departments Local Seen 19 No Witches or Princesses Here! Local artists share their most creative Halloween costumes By Meredith Good
19
Celebrating 20 Years 20 Celebrating 20 Years With Jim Sonefeld 21 1989 Rewind Cayce – a brief breakdown Arts Outreach 22 “Breathing Room for the Spirit” Local fine arts outreach programs enrich the lives of both artists and their audiences By Rosanne McDowell Palmetto Business 28 The Business of Doing Arts The effect that the arts have on Columbia’s economy By Sam Morton
28
4 COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN
Home Style 48 Color Her World Artist Alicia Leeke’s vibrant home
O C T O B E R 2009
www.columbiametro.com
COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN 5
CONTENTS Volume 20 Number 4 By Margaret Gregory 52 Complementary Pairs Artists whose lives, side by side, intensify one another By Robin Cowie Nalepa
52
58
58 Delectable Masterpieces Making your entrĂŠe a work of art By Susan Fuller Slack, CCP Advertising Sections 34 Getting Down to Business
72
6 COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN
In Every Issue 8 From the Editor 10 City Scoop 33 Spread the Word 65 New to the Neighborhood? 68 Good Eats 71 Just Married
O C T O B E R 2009
www.columbiametro.com
COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN 7
FROM THE EDITOR
“W
hat should we prepare for dinner tonight?” asked my roommate. “Well,” I mumbled as I looked into cabinets that housed only a few items, “we could have spaghetti noodles with a dash of soy sauce and a warm glass of tap water.” “Perfect,” she exclaimed. “I’m starving!” My roommate and I had been living in London for the fall semester of our junior year in college. Our entire three-and-a-half months of spending money came only from a summer of waiting tables in Pawleys Island. At the beginning of our trip, we had made a pact that we were going to take in all the sights we could possibly see, even if it meant we had to sacrifice elsewhere. After all, we were living in London, with access to all the churches, museums and theatres that our art-loving spirits could ever desire. When the semester ended, our clothes were sagging, and we craved homecooked meals, but we had accomplished our goal like no other college students we knew. Every day, we started out the door as soon as the sun came up, having spent hours the night before mapping out our plan. When we weren’t in class, we were standing in long lines trying to get the best deals on theatre tickets or combing museums in awe of art that we had only seen before in books. We were discovering every nook and cranny of this historic city and making the most of every minute that we had. Even though I can’t carry a tune or stay in the lines when I color, I have always enjoyed art – every form of it. Needless to say, I was more than excited about our decision to dedicate an entire issue of the magazine to the arts in Columbia. The arts scene here is tremendous, and as Columbia grows, so does its diversity and range of talent. Columbia is home to the nationally recognized Columbia Museum of Art, which is complemented by numerous top-notch smaller galleries and countless local artists. USC offers a wealth of resources for artists, and the Koger Center attracts a multitude of shows, including a traveling Broadway series, the South Carolina Philharmonic and several professional ballet companies. Trustus, Workshop Theatre, Town Theatre and the Chapin Community Theatre produce fantastic season lineups, and we even have our own Marionette Theatre. Places like the Nickelodeon bring in quality independent films and the Colonial Life Arena, Township Auditorium and Newberry Opera House attract some big name talent to our area. While I’ve never been a starving artist, during my semester abroad, I certainly put food secondary to art in order to appreciate the wealth of talent and history that surrounded me. Many years later, I am back in my hometown extremely grateful for, and sometimes overwhelmed by, the vast opportunities to enjoy the arts right in my own backyard. Thank you to all of our local artists who make this city a beautiful place to call home. I hope you enjoy the issue.
COLUMBIA M E T R O P O L I T A N PUBLISHER
Henry Clay E D I TO R
Emily Tinch A S S O C I AT E E D I TO R
Robyn Culbertson A S S I S TA N T E D I TO R
Lindsay Niedringhaus E D I TO R I A L A RT D I R E C TO R
Dennis Craighead Design A D V E RT I S I N G S A L E S
Shawn Coward Denise Floyd A D V E RT I S I N G A RT D I R E C TO R
Robyn Culbertson O F F I C E / P R O D U C T I O N / C I R C U L AT I O N MANAGER
Lindsay Niedringhaus CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Jessica Berger, Meredith Good, Margaret Gregory, Rosanne McDowell, Sam Morton, Robin Nalepa, Anne Postic, Susan Slack, Chuck Walsh P H O TO G R A P H Y
Jeff Amberg, Robert Clark, Jennifer Covington, Bob Lancaster INTERN
Sarah Patterson Columbia Metropolitan is published 10 times a year by Clay Publishing, Inc., 3700 Forest Drive, Suite 106, Columbia, S.C. 29204. Copyright © Columbia Metropolitan 2009. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Advertising rates available upon request. The publishers are not responsible for the comments of authors or for unsolicited manuscripts. SUBSCRIPTION price $19.97 a year, $29.97 for two years in the United States. POSTMASTER send address changes to: COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN, P.O. Box 6666, Columbia, South Carolina 29260. (803)787-6501.
Sincerely,
Emily S. Tinch Editor
8 COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN
Alicia White of the Columbia City Ballet perfects the art of party dressing. Photography by Jeff Amberg
O C T O B E R 2009
CITY SCOOP
Heart ‘n Soul is Ready to Rock ‘n Roll Heart ‘n Soul, a band fairly new to the entertainment scene in the Midlands, may be playing “I Feel Good,” but they’re not just in a good mood – they feel good about giving back to their community through their gifts as musicians. “Heart ‘n Soul is based on the concept of service above self,” says Doug Neal, drummer for the band. “We derived our name from the idea that we give our time and talents from the heart – and we’ve got soul.” Eleven members comprise Heart ‘n Soul, including musicians listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Macon, Ga. Some band members have backed up or opened for legends such as Aretha Franklin, Billy Stewart, The Temptations, Chicago and Stevie Wonder, and even cut recordings that are still being played today. Heart ‘n Soul is a registered nonprofit organization. Income earned from performances is donated to various charities the band supports or is given back to the charity that hires Heart ‘n Soul for its event. The musicians represent careers ranging from a national park ranger to dentists to certified public accountants. All of these musicians joined the band to give of their heart to nonprofits through the soul of their music. “I joined Heart ‘n Soul because I have a deep-rooted interest in supporting the good work of many nonprofits in the area,” says Curt Rone, tenor saxophonist with the band. “This marries both worlds for me – I have the opportunity to give back to the community while having a lot of fun at the same time.” With rhythm and lead guitars, bass guitar, drums, keyboard, tenor and baritone saxes, trumpet, tenor singer, female singer and a singer/harmonica player, the band offers a wide variety of 50s and 60s soul, rhythm and blues music to give the crowds a toe-tapping, handclapping and shag-dancing good time. “I don’t know who has more fun – the audience or us,” says Malcolm Gordon, vocalist and harmonica player. “We have a blast playing this music and performing. It’s good to know that when we give back to our community, it makes them ‘feel good, like I knew that I would.’” Heart ‘n Soul accepts applications for performances and chooses several opportunities each year to share their talents with a wide variety of charitable organizations. For more information, contact Doug Neal at (803) 787-7017 or heartnsoul@bellsouth.net.
www.columbiametro.com
COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN 9
Columbia’s Got Talent! O By Sarah Patterson
n Nov. 14, S.C. MET auditions will be held in the recital hall at the USC School of Music. Sponsored by the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York, the auditions are designed to discover promising young opera singers and assist in the development of their careers. Each state holds its own competition for singers between the ages of 20 and 30. Professional judges will choose three winners from the South Carolina auditions to compete in the Southeastern Regional Finals in Atlanta, one of 15 regional finals in the United States and Canada. The Southeastern Regional winner will then compete in New York on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in the National Semi-Finals. Ten semi-finalists will be selected as national finalists and will compete in a public concert, accompanied by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Five grand winners will be awarded $15,000 each to further their careers in music. Several South Carolinians have won at the regionals in Atlanta, including David Daniels from Spartanburg. The countertenor is now one of the top opera performers in the world and is a celebrity among opera lovers. Each year the Opera Guild of Greater Columbia donates money to support the S.C. MET Auditions. However, the Guild is concerned about lack of funding and worries that South Carolina is in danger of becoming one of very few states without the auditions. In addition to contributing to the S.C. MET Auditions, the Opera Guild also supports The Palmetto Opera and FBN Productions, a local opera company providing opera for children. For more information about the S.C. MET auditions, which are free and open to the public, call (803) 737-0287. To learn more about the Opera Guild of Greater Columbia, visit www.capnbilly.com/ Countertenor David Daniels opera_guild_001.htm.
Broadway Comes to Columbia By Sarah Patterson
F
rom New York City to South Carolina, Broadway has traveled a long way! The Broadway in Columbia Series has arrived, and on Oct. 21 and 22 Tap Dogs will take the stage. This tap dance show is not your usual Chaplin-esque routine. Created by Australian dancer and choreographer Dein Perry, the show has revolutionized the way tap is presented. Six men perform non-stop tap routines on a set designed to appear like a construction site. Throughout the performance, they tap on water, with basketballs and on ladders, creating an unforgettable
10 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
Tap Dogs
performance. Debuting in 1995, the show became famous when it was performed at the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Everything from the amazing skill and endurance of the dancers to their trademark of wearing specifically
modified boots makes it a must-see show. Starting in 2010, Broadway in Columbia also will sponsor The Wizard of Oz, Cabaret, Beauty and the Beast and Mamma Mia! For more information, visit www. broadwayincolumbia.com.
O C T O B E R 2009
The Township Gets a Facelift By Sarah Patterson
www.columbiametro.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF TOWNSHIP FOUNDATION
A
fter 80 years of dance recitals, college and high school graduations, rallies for political and social causes, symphonies, rock ‘n roll concerts, roller derbies and wrestling matches, the Township Auditorium is getting a much needed facelift. The Township will be closed until April 2010 for the $12 million renovation. Included in the renovation will be a new lobby, concession areas and restrooms, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, more easily accessible loading and storage areas, better dressing rooms and management offices and an upgraded box office in a new glass tower addition. The plans to renovate were conceived with three goals in mind: first, to preserve the classic external façade, the cozy atmosphere and amazing acoustics and sight line; second, to create a backstage area and stage floor which artists would find accommodating; and, third, to enhance the level of comfort for the patrons while coming in, congregating, being seated and leaving after the show. The auditorium is seeking financial donations, volunteers and/or
memorabilia donations (i.e. ticket stubs, playbills or posters from past shows) to help breathe new life into the project. If you would like to help in any way, call the Township at (803) 576-2350.
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 11
The Nick is Movin’ on Up By Sarah Patterson
T
he Nickelodeon Theater, S o u t h C a r o l i n a ’s o n l y nonprofit art house film theater, has kicked off its Moving up Main campaign. This campaign will fund the full renovation of
the former Fox Theater at 1607 Main St., transforming it into the new home of the S.C. Center for Film and Media, the Nickelodeon Theater and the Columbia Media Education Center.
The new facility will feature two screens, triple the current seating capacity, a larger lobby and an expanded concession and bar area. This will also be Columbia’s first Media Education Center, which will offer classes in media production and literacy to students and adults. The building opened in 1936 as the State Theater and became the Fox Theatre in 1962; it has been mostly unused for the past 20 years. The goal is that the entire space will be fully utilized after the renovations. Larry Hembree, executive director of the Nickelodeon Theater, says about the plans: “With a grand marquee, greater rental opportunities and nightly screenings of films rarely seen outside of the metropolitan area, our new theater will insure that the new Main Street no longer shuts down at the end of the business day.” To learn more about the Moving up Main campaign, visit www.movethenick.org.
12 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
Columbia Marionette Theatre Presents Snow White
By Sarah Patterson
L
ooking for a fun way to spend a Saturday with your children? Beginning in October, the puppeteers at the Columbia Marionette Theater will present Snow White every Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Monday Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. Founded in 1988 by Allie Scollon and her son John as a nonprofit organization, the Columbia Marionette Theatre is a premiere Children’s Theatre in South Carolina, working to keep the legacy and art of puppetry alive. The Theater moved to its current home near Riverfront Park in 1995. Puppets are controlled by strings and manipulated from above, requiring a great deal of skill from the person in control. Puppets range in size from 12-inch Tinkerbell to five-foot Zeus, all of which are created in-house. In fact, every aspect of the theatre’s productions is created in-house, from the script to the soundtrack to the sets. Each production takes several months to complete from start to finish. From on-going party specials and traveling shows ranging from the fairytale Cinderella to educational shows such as Litter Trashes Everyone, Columbia’s very own Marionette Theatre is something that should not be missed. Tickets are $4 for adults and children. Snow White will continue to run through the end of December. Call (803) 252-7366 for more information.
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 13
The Columbia Design League Explores Graphic Design
t
he Columbia Design League will bring Alston W. Purvis to Columbia this fall to discuss the extraordinary tradition of Dutch poster design over the last century. Alston is associate professor at Boston University College of Fine Arts where he serves a chairman of the department of graphic design. He is also a leading international authority on graphic design and has written several books on the subject.
The Columbia Design League, a not-for-profit philanthropic organization of the Columbia Museum of Art, welcomes anyone and everyone to join. Its mission is to promote passion for design excellence through communication between design professionals during its lecture series. Members also work to establish dialogue between the design community of Columbia and other cities and provide educated outreach to young people. The League hosts lectures by architects and designers – some
14 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
internationally known – as well as collaborative events with the College of Architecture at Clemson University and the University of North Carolina Charlotte. This past April, the League held its 2nd annual Runaway Runway fundraiser. The fashion show featured designs of recycled or reused materials by a wide range of amateur designers. The message was to show that a piece can be high fashion and environmentally sound at the same time. The League is a great way to expand your horizons about the world of design, and for only $15 per adult and $25 for two to become a member, it is a great way to experience what Columbia has to offer in the world of art design. For more information about the Columbia Design League or the Alston W. Purvis lecture on Nov. 6 at 6 p.m., visit www.columbiamuseum.org.
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 15
HoFP Gallery Showcases Maya Eventov HoFP Gallery is pleased to announce a show of original paintings by Toronto artist Maya Eventov. The public is invited to meet the artist in the upstairs gallery on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. The show will run through Nov. 14.
Wildflowers
 The artist uses a selection of different sized palette knives to create paintings of extraordinary complexity in which the paint is applied in both blended and pure colors. Maya uses smaller knives to create depth and detail in her paintings. She finishes with a series of varnishes to maintain a wet paint effect. The three-dimensional nature of the work enlivens her Mediterranean-themed landscapes, which capture the joyous freedom of bright blue skies and quiet cafes. The show will focus on scenes reminiscent of rural landscapes in North America. These paintings are executed using a special palette knife and imitate a mosaic technique. The smaller, more regular strokes allow the painting to come to life in the subtle shifts in color and tone.
16 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
Maya Eventov
HoFP Gallery is located at 2828 Devine Street. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free, and the public is invited to attend. For further information on the show or gallery call (803) 799-7405 or e-mail info@hofpgallery.com.
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 17
18 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
LOCAL SEEN
No Witches or
Princesses Here!
Local artists share their most creative Halloween costumes
C
olumbia has a vibrant body of people involved in the creative arts. Here, a few local artists share the imaginative Halloween costumes they have created and enjoyed. Perhaps it will get your creative juices flowing for your own original Halloween attire!
Monica Wyrick CELTIC ARTIST “My three children always wanted to be a character from whatever book they were reading, but they were never costumes I could buy. I liked making the Pippi Longstocking costume because the wig was so crazy!”
Joie Hancock ACRYLIC PLAYFUL DESIGNS “The dream began when I was 3 years old and in a recital dressed as a cowgirl. It continued in childhood games of cowboys and Indians played with neighbors. Later, the dream metamorphosed into marrying the Marlboro man, and finally came alive when I created an original piece of art being a cowboy.”
Brana Wallace PHOTOGRAPHER “As a high school student – and way too old to trick-or-treat – my neighbor and I made a last minute decision that we wanted some candy anyway. So we improvised costumes using leftover fake blood and skin from her brother’s costume. Then we put black shoe polish on her dad’s tires and ran over our shirts, making us fresh roadkill.”
Mary Kent Hearon PAINTER “My most favorite costume was an amazing cat costume I put together. I painted my face with whiskers and wore this incredible coat I had bought in Hartford, Conn., at a Wadsworth Atheneum (the big museum there) estate sale. The coat was real fur (sorry PETA) and made of leopard skin. So, in essence, I was modeling the skin of the real deal. Meow!”
www.columbiametro.com
Bohumila Owensby JEWELRY AND RECYCLED FASHION
“My favorite costume was [being a] drag queen. I just bought fake lashes and nails, and the rest I found or borrowed. My close friends had the hardest time recognizing me. It was so much fun to be so crazy-looking.”
Ansley Coleman Grier CHILDREN’S WHIMSICAL ART
“This was the most fun costume ever, as I loved playing the part of a 70s disco queen with my big blonde Farrah Fawcett wig, sparkle blue eye shadow and glossy lips!”
Bill Davis PAINTER OF WHIMSICAL ART; BEST KNOWN FOR DAVIS DIVAS “My weirdest Halloween costume ended up being a scary one, but it wasn’t meant to be. On a dare I agreed to do ‘drag,’ but only if it could be funny. I finally decided to do Jethro’s sister ‘Jethrene’ from ‘The Beverly Hillbillies.’”
Haley Keisler HERMOSA JEWELRY DESIGN (SHOWN HERE AS A BUBBLE BATH) “Dressing up for Halloween is all about being original and authentic. I usually start figuring out what I am going to do about a month ahead. It is all about your props. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and that is why I always go all out to make my costumes memorable!”
Blue Sky PAINTER, SCULPTOR, MURALIST
“Actually, my favorite costume is a fedora hat and a beard. I wear it on Halloween and every other day of the year including Christmas and Arbor Day. I practice doing a sexy man walk when I wear this outfit. I call it ‘The World’s Greatest Artist’ walk.”
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 19
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS WITH Jim Sonefeld, affectionately called Soni, has not only topped Billboard’s charts, but he has also topped Columbia’s charts as one of its most well-known and favorite celebrities. As a founding member, Soni played drums and wrote songs for the rock band Hootie and the Blowfish, which formed in 1986 at USC. The band’s 1994 major label debut album, “Cracked Rear View,” went platinum 16 times, making it one of the best selling albums of all time. In 1994, when Soni graced Columbia Metropolitan’s spring issue cover with his bandmates, Hootie and the Blowfish was literally on the brink of success. When Soni again smiled on our March/April 2000 cover, one never would have guessed he had traveled thousands of miles and played in front of hundreds of crowds as a rock star. His quiet charm and easygoing personality reminded us that Soni was still a good ole’ Columbia boy, and his actions have proved it since then. Soni is currently president of The Animal Mission of the Midlands, a nonprofit organization founded to promote pet adoptions at the City of Columbia Animal Shelter and to educate the public about pet and humane issues. In 2008, Hootie and the Blowfish headlined the Mission’s 2008 Party Animals concert to benefit the cause. The band played some favorite hits as well as some new songs from Soni’s solo album, “Snowman Melting.” A two-time Grammy winner, nonprofit charity founder and solo artist, Soni leaves us wondering what he’ll do next. Whatever he does do, we do know one thing: we’ll always be proud that he calls Columbia “home.”
Photography by Jennifer Covington
Jim Sonefeld
“My City. My Magazine for 20 Years.” 20 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
Photo courtesy of City of Cayce
1989 Rewind By Jessica Berger
Let’s hop in our time machines and travel back to an era when the Carolinas didn’t have an NFL team and no one had ever heard of an iPod. The Sega Genesis was new in stores, Sparky Woods was the new leader of Gamecock football and the country was saying goodbye to comedy legend Lucille Ball. Tim Berners-Lee also was making history with the creation of the first World Wide Web server and browser. The year was 1989, and Columbians were prepping for a new decade. As America was changing, Columbia Metropolitan was preparing to change Columbia’s print news scene. To mark our 20th year as the capital city’s magazine, Columbia Metropolitan will highlight the 1989 happenings of different parts of the Columbia area. Join us as we take a look into the past to recall what happened, as well as what didn’t, and see how much Columbia has changed in two decades.
Granby House Museum
Cayce: 1989 ➤ The Cayce City Council approved the sale of $7.5 million in bonds to build a new sewage treatment plant, a water plant, an alum sludge treatment process, a raw water pump station and a water tank at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. ➤ In April, Cayce decided to no longer enforce the state law that makes it illegal for trains to block traffic for more than five minutes. ➤ Cayce’s Granby House Museum, a reconstructed 19thcentury farmhouse, was 90 percent complete. However, its opening was delayed when, due to faulty wiring, its porch caught fire in May. The damage was estimated to exceed $15,000.
➤ The Lexington County Recreation Commission was looking at Cayce as a prospective location to build a $5 million leisure center for the West Columbia, Cayce and Springdale areas. The center was eventually constructed in West Columbia, though it did not boast the estimated hefty price tag.
www.columbiametro.com
Photo courtesy of City of Cayce
➤ The Cayce Congaree Carnival was relocated from its usual location at Parklane Shopping Center to the grounds of Cayce City Hall on 12th Street.
Cayce Municipal Building
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 21
Breathing Room
Spirit FOR THE
A summer camp at the Columbia Museum of Art invited youngsters to paint chairs and umbrellas in the brightly colored style of a selected artist.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COLUMBIA MUSEUM OF ART
ARTS OUTREACH
Local fine arts outreach programs enrich the lives of both artists and their audiences By Rosanne McDowell
M
ost artists can pinpoint one or more incidents in childhood when someone, often a family member, gave them encouraging nudges in the direction of the arts. Percussionist Matthew Jones started with a set of paper-topped toy drums, the gift of his parents. He soon punctured the paper heads, but that didn’t stop him. After dinner, trumpeter Dick Goodwin’s father, grandfather and uncles gathered in the parlor to sing barbershop numbers. As soon as young Dick and his cousin grew old enough to hold still, they were made to stand in the middle of the quartet and find a part. The church minister of music recognized bass Marc Rattray’s unusual musical talent and began tutoring the 12-year-old in voice.
22 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
For artists of all kinds – not just musicians like Matthew, Dick and Marc – art becomes a multifaceted source of pleasure to themselves and others over time, and in all its varied scenarios, they find in art “breathing room for the spirit.” This kind of breathing room is a pleasure accessible to anyone if attraction to the arts is nurtured, as in the above three cases. Midlands arts organizations, knowing how critical early, high-interest exposure is to creating delight in the arts, have dreamed up quite a few outreach programs to promote that delight in children while still not forgetting adults. You have no family member or friend to initiate you and yours into the mysteries of the fine arts? Then sample one of the outreach programs offered by the Columbia Museum of Art, the South Carolina Philharmonic, Town Theatre or the Afternoon, Eau Claire and Morning music clubs.
The Columbia Museum of Art: Painting a New View of the Fine Arts D a r i o n Mc Cl o u d , o u t r e a ch manager with the Columbia Museum of Art, says he’s lost count of the outreach programs the museum sponsors. One of the latest, a summer camp, invited youngsters to paint chairs and umbrellas in the brightly colored style of a selected artist – the children’s take on this style, of course. Participants took their handiwork home when completed. In order to include grownups, the museum also has a project that involves both parents and their young ones. “The adults go one way, the kids go another, and they work on different things,” says Darion. “The next week, the adults and kids get together, take their different experiences in the previous sessions
O C T O B E R 2009
and work on something together as a family.” Darion also notes that these particular outreach programs are free to the participants but that the museum is constantly searching for funding to keep them available. He advises visiting the museum’s Web site to learn about current outreach programs. In addition, every Sunday the Columbia Museum of Art grants free admission to all, courtesy of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of South Carolina. Hours are noon to 5 p.m.
The South Carolina Philharmonic: Expressing the Inexpressible
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SUZANNE LEE
“Last season,” says Jason Rapp, communications and audience services director with the South Carolina Philharmonic, “we started a new recital series called ‘Where in the Midlands is Morihiko?’ A grant from the Central Carolina Community Foundation allowed us to put together quartets and quintets of brass and strings, and we went out into the community and
www.columbiametro.com
“A few years ago,” Suzanne says, “percussionist Matthew Jones began coming to my second grade with the program, and he’s so funny that the kids love him. When Matthew and Ron Davis perform together for the kids – Ron plays tuba, banjo and kazoo – they are an absolute hoot and put on quite a show!” Matthew modestly claims he has an advantage over musicians who play other instruments: the kids already recognize his drums, so he doesn’t have to do as much explaining. He clearly enjoys the kids as much as they enjoy him. Lasting benefits accrue for Suzanne’s students. Because they have met and heard high-quality musicians like the ones she plays for them on CDs, recordings now come alive for the kids. “They realize there are real people on the other end of that music, and they begin to realize the depth of work that goes into making it. Also, my students understand a lot more about the four instrument families of the orchestra. By catching these kids when they’re little, we help them learn to love orchestral music for life.” Jason Rapp points out two more programs the (L to R) Ron Davis and Matthew Jones of the South Carolina Philharmonic takes to Philharmonic’s outreach program perform for second graders at the schools: Carnival Ballentine Elementary School. of the Animals and Peter and the Wolf. Wi t h C a r n i v a l , f o r instance, students hear their original poetry read by their school administrator while Philharmonic members play and a projector displays student artwork. At Oak Pointe Elementary this past April, to the delight of the kids, the principal read their poetry dressed in a tux. These two programs, as well as Adopt-a-Musician, are fee-based, but schools often obtain grants to cover expenses.
did a free one-hour concert during the week leading up to each of our Master Series concerts. You might have seen us at Allen University, the Shoppes at Flight Deck in Lexington or the green space at Main and Lady in downtown Columbia. This series serves several purposes: It’s outreach, it gets us out into places we wouldn’t be ordinarily and it allows us to say we’ve got a concert coming up Saturday night.” Adding to the fun, participating members of the Philharmonic give out schedule magnets and half-price ticket vouchers at these events, and as his schedule allows, Maestro Morihiko Nakahara greets the crowd. Currently, the Philharmonic is seeking funding to repeat this hit series. Ballentine Elementary music teacher Suzanne Lee is a fan of another popular Philharmonic outreach program, dubbed Adopta- Musician. Suzanne arranges for orchestra members to visit various classrooms at her school four times yearly. While there, musicians explain how they got into music, interact with students in the group setting and give demonstrations of their instruments.
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 23
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF TOWN THEATRE
Summer Program to produce Ian Burnette played the ghost of Jacob Marley in Town Theatre’s A Christmas Carol. Town Theatre: Sharing on an annual Christmas show. The young members of the Boards What It Is to Jamie’s fall acting class put on a play for the first half Be Human of the show; the partner Thanks to funding from Colonial organization supplies the Life, Town Theatre recently took second half, which might be a show on the road to E.E. Taylor an appearance by St. Nick. Elementary and left behind a lot of Half of ticket sales go to the kids eager for more stage fun. For this partner organization, while after-school outreach, Town helped the other half pays Town students make hand puppets bedecked Theatre’s costs. Held at Town, with sequins and feathers and taught this holiday production runs them puppetry basics. The two-hour for about six shows, each event culminated in a performance with a different second half, of The Frog Prince, and students went depending on which partner home with their puppet creations, is on the boards at the time. all based on characters from their “Last year,” s ays Jamie, “for the first half we did A production. Jamie Harrington, director of Christmas Carol, and the year youth at Town Theatre and current before that, The Best Christmas fountainhead of children’s outreach Pageant Ever. This coming for the organization, says the theatre season, we’ll be performing Babes in responsibility concerning the use of has devised several means of winning Toyland.” Check Town Theatre’s box their talents. Hand Middle School’s youngsters’ allegiance to dramatic office to reserve your tickets for this Ian Burnette, eighth-grade student and the ghost of Jacob Marley in last doings. In one longtime, unanimous perennial thespian charmer. It’s no small point that its holiday year’s A Christmas Carol, says about favorite, Town partners with local groups like the Greater Columbia outreach leaves Town’s participating his experience: “I always like being Children’s Choir and Irish Children’s youth actors with a new sense of involved in volunteer acting because I feel it benefits the community and the organizations we serve as a nonprofit A fashion show fundraiser is held every spring to support the music clubs’ theatre. Hopefully, it also provides scholarship auditions and provide the cash awards for winners. enjoyment for people who come to see our shows!”
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HELENA MEETZE
Afternoon, Eau Claire and Morning Music Clubs: Encouraging the “Angels” to Speak
24 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
While the Afternoon, Eau Claire and Morning music clubs do perform in the community from time to time, their primary outreach is a joint project held every spring and eagerly awaited by talented young musicians. It begins in March with a festive luncheon and fashion show fundraiser hosted at Forest Lake Country Club. Proceeds from this event support the clubs’ April scholarship auditions and the accompanying cash prizes awarded
O C T O B E R 2009
to winners. There’s a $15 audition fee, which goes to pay the judges, so this outreach is not free; however, it eventually benefits many Columbiaarea residents because the audition winners, whose musical training the clubs are helping to underwrite, frequently become the Midlands’ best professional and amateur musicians. According to Helena Meetze, chair of the auditions, students may compete with any instrument in one of three age divisions: grades 6 through 8, grades 9 through 11, and grade 12 through college junior. The voice and organ competitions are held only for the upper division. A week after the auditions, winners perform in a public recital at Columbia College’s concert hall. A reception follows, and scholarships are presented at the conclusion of the event. Although much outreach seeks to find and support young artists, a great deal of arts outreach strives to draw “just folks” to help them discover for themselves the pleasure of participating in the arts, as well as enjoyment and appreciation of the artistic endeavors of others – in short, to enlarge people’s ability to enjoy and interpret life through the arts. Columbia Museum of Art’s Darion McCloud articulately expresses this type of outreach philosophy: “The big deal for us is not so much to find the next great artist. Selling work and becoming a professional artist is cool, don’t get me wrong. Instead, our outreach focus is that by exposing people to the arts and teaching them that the arts are present in everyday life – the building you live in, the car you drive, the clothes you wear – we help make them better people, better citizens, better parents, better sons and daughters.” For more information about these groups, contact the Columbia Museum of Art at www.columbiamuseum.org, the South Carolina Philharmonic at www.scphilharmonic.com, Town Theatre at www.towntheatre.com, or Helena Meetze at (803) 776-6500.
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 25
26 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 27
T
The effect that the arts have on Columbia’s economy By Sam Morton / Illustration by Trahern Cook
28 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
he stage at the Koger Center for the Arts is empty and still. Floorto-ceiling steel stage doors tower over it. Open, they reveal the scene’s nerve center, the lighting station, the doors to the green room and rehearsal hall. When shut, they physically focus the eyes on the stage itself. The boards are quiet. Even the sound of footsteps is muffled. There is no whine of manufacturing machinery, no quiet hum of networked servers to be found. Yet the Koger, and all of Columbia’s fine arts venues, are every bit as much an economic development engine. For the past five years, Indiana-based The Roberts Group has presented the Broadway in Columbia series at the Koger Center. It has brought to the Midlands such stage productions as Oliver, Riverdance and Chicago. This season it will bring back the popular Mamma Mia! production, as well as The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast. “Having a residential Broadway series, a residential symphony and a residential ballet gives Columbia a leg up on other cities when it comes to economic recruiting,” says The Roberts Group’s Tim Roberts. “The city has a well-rounded cultural offering.” Just in terms of popularity of the Koger Center, every Broadway production it has presented in the series’ five years has resulted in between 85 to 100 percent capacity. “We get around 2,000 season-ticket holders each year, and 1,400 or so have been with us since the beginning and continue to support the series,” Tim says. Two years ago when the Koger first presented Mamma Mia!, more than 14,000 people came to see the musical during
O C T O B E R 2009
PALMETTO BUSINESS its weeklong run. “That’s the largest number of people to come see a single event in the center’s history,” Tim says. Tim points out that, in terms of dollars spent, these productions bode well for stagehands and support staff. In addition, he says, “The media we buy – to the extent we can hire labor locally we do, and any ancillary services we need – all that money we spend stays in the local marketplace.” He also touches on the multiplier effect. “Many of the people who attend the productions come in from out of town. Most of them eat a meal, buy gas or shop and spend the night in Columbia, so you have an economic effect that’s external to the productions themselves.” Make no mistake, when governments and leaders in the Midlands court new or relocating businesses, members of the arts community are often among the first to be invited to take a seat at the recruiting table. “The more sophisticated a business is in what it manufactures, the more interested the company is in the arts,” says Trustus founder Jim Thigpen. “It really is a quality of life issue.” Jim notices a tell-tale sign in the way newspapers have reacted to the economic crisis. “The first thing they cut is the arts section, and it makes us look less sophisticated as a city, and that makes us less attractive to educated people.” But these are just anecdotes. What of the numbers, the facts that support the notion that the arts drive business? A 2007 Arts and Economic Prosperity study commissioned by Americans for the Arts sends a clear message that communities that invest in the arts harness greater economic rewards in return. “According to the study, arts and culture are a $56.26 million industry in Greater Columbia, supporting 2,206 full time jobs and generating $6.49 million in local and state government revenue,” says South Carolina Philharmonic Executive Director Rhonda Hunsinger. New or relocating companies
www.columbiametro.com
considering Columbia as a potential new home often ask first about the arts community, which they say must be present if they are to attract and retain quality employees. “I recall a specific instance where a company from Germany considering expansion into Columbia first asked if Columbia had a professional symphony. The SCP was contacted and company representatives were invited to our next concert. Was the presence of a professional orchestra the deciding factor when they ultimately moved here? Probably not, but clearly they decided that Columbia’s arts community was a good fit for their company and its employees,” Rhonda says.
“The arts The arts are are indeed a good investment indeed a goodof public funds. investment of The Columbia Museum public funds,” of Art generated more than $23 million in economic activity in 2008. The Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties was the actual local project manager for this study. Andrew Witt, executive director of the Cultural Council, says on a national level, the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year – $63.1 billion in spending by organizations and an additional $103.1 billion in event-related spending by audiences. “The national impact of this activity is significant, supporting 5.7 million jobs and generating $29.6 billion in government revenue,” he says. On a local level in Richland and Lexington counties, Andy emphasizes that:
l Total attendance (and individuals do attend multiple events annually) was 1,788,378, of which 341,580 were non-residents (people living outside the two counties) – a 19 percent visitor rate, which fully reinforces the value of city and county Accommodations and Hospitality Tax grants to the arts. l These arts patrons had event related expenditures of $29,453,402, of which $10,804,176 came from visitors, figures that exclude the cost of tickets or admissions. That’s meals and refreshments, souvenirs and gifts, transportation, overnight lodging and other expenses. l Equally significant is the amount of tax dollars going back to government: $2,689,000 to local government and $3,801,000 to state government. “The arts are indeed a good investment of public funds,” Andy says. The Columbia Museum of Art conducted an economic impact study with Miley, Gallo & Associates, one of the Southeast’s leading economic and financial consulting firms. The results show that the Columbia Museum of Art generated more than $23 million in economic activity in the Columbia Metropolitan area in 2008, up significantly from $9.7 million in 2005. Museum Executive Director Karen Brosius says, “This study shows without a doubt that the Columbia Museum of Art is a great investment for the city and county.” The economic development news comes on the heels of the departure of one of the museum’s most popular and profitable exhibitions: Turner to Cézanne: Masterpieces from the Davies Collection, on loan from the National Museum Wales in Cardiff. Ellen Woodoff, the museum’s marketing and communications director, calls the exhibition, “First-rate works from firstrate artists – the best of the best as far as Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art is concerned.” In addition to the money generated, the museum stimulates directly and indirectly more than 370 jobs in the Columbia area in a variety of
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 29
business sectors. It serves an average of 10,700 people per month through its programs, events and outreach activities. The study shows that overnight visitors spend $8.2 million in Columbia directly on lodging, retail and restaurant/bar expenditures. In addition to its art exhibitions and public programs, the museum serves the Columbia community in a variety of ways: l Its operating expenditures for fiscal year 2008 were $3,347,960, the majority of which were spent in the local economy. l It is a major contributor to downtown Columbia tourism. Attendance and outreach is over 128,000 people per year with 54 percent from areas outside Richland County and 16 percent outside of South Carolina. l The museum provides quality, comprehensive arts education. l It serves as a venue for local events. The Museum can accommodate parties from 10 to 1,000 people. In 2007 and 2008, the Museum hosted 30,000 people at rental events. l Finally, the museum is the cultural anchor of the revitalization of downtown Columbia. When USC named Dr. Brian Benicewicz, one of the world’s leading scientists in nanotechnogy and fuel-cell research, to lead its fuel cell initiatives, he made a couple of preliminary trips to the state before accepting the position. He was impressed by the collaborative nature at USC, but he also liked the cultural opportunities the region afforded. “It really takes a complete package to get somebody to uproot and move, but that’s what South Carolina presented and what convinced me,” he says. The scientist brought six researchers and their families with him to Columbia. So at the end of the day, we can say fine arts plays its role or does its job, whichever clichéd metaphor you choose. But the truth is that the arts mean big business, big opportunities and a better Columbia.
30 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 31
32 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
SPREAD THE WORD
Donnell Jennings
Vaughan Dozier
Jon Keith
George Zara
Jonathan Phillips
Scott Nuelken
Amy Criswell
Stephen Kelly
Lisa Hostetler
James Faulkenberry
Mel Clarke, Jr.
Jimmy Doar
Matt Hancock
Stephanie Cooper-Lewter
Toyya Brawley Gray
Keith Chichester
Walton Rehabilitation System has earned a Gold Seal of Approval™ for health care quality from the Joint Commission.
Asheley Scott, AIA, of Studio 2LR, has successfully passed the LEED exam and is now a LEED accredited professional.
Kaela Harmon has launched ViXUS Communications.
Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte lawyers have been named to the 2010 edition of Best Lawyers in America®: Grady L. Beard, Elizabeth Van Doren Gray, Daniel W. Hayes, Rebecca Laffitte, Thornwell F. Sowell, Robert E. Stepp, Monteith P. Todd and J. Calhoun Watson.
Melanie Huggins has been named executive director of the Richland County Public Library. Allen Amsler of The National Bank of South Carolina has been elected to the Lexington Community Advisory Board. The Leadership Columbia Program has announced its 2009-10 class: Adam Dougherty, Carol Addy, Kwame Alexander, Dalia Ali, April Allen, Michael Ambrose, Brooke Bailey, Kay Barlow, Bryant Blakeslee, Jr., Rhett Brewer, Allen Bridgers, Jon Brockman, Will Brumbach, Ashley Bruton, Ansel Bunch, Brantley Butler, Prudence Chichester, Scott Clark, Lisa Cotton, John Dawkins, Gavin Dean, Jeffrey DeGood, Brian Dukes, Delisa English, Ginger Fleming, Liz Flood, Matthew Fowler, Jennifer Freeman, Charity Garris, Ed Gilmer, Barbara Haggray, Nick Haigler, Rebecca Halberg, Jason Harman, Annejanet Harp, Sallie Harrell, Lisa Hostetler, Wendy Hughes, Melvin Jones, Wayne Jones, Anne Lakos, J.P. Lee, Tiffany Lee, Bunnie Lempesis, Dan Leonardi, Reyburn Lominack, Mark Majestic, Mike McGovern, Kathy Moreland, Greg Parks, Margaret Ellen Pender, Clay Pope, Edward Rawl, Derek Riley, Doug Saunders, Lou Schottelkotte, Kelly Scott Hynes, Sarah Spruill, Nick Stomski, Brazand Thomas, David Wallace, Robyn Watson, Bob Wertz, Drew Williams, Katie Wilmesherr and Scott Wilson. Vickie Eslinger has been named Justice Center’s 2009 Advocate of the Year. Carol Douis has been named president and broker-in-charge of Lake Carolina Properties. Christina Goodwin has been elected treasurer for the Palmetto Chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. Dana Herron has been elected to the board of directors for the Carolinas chapter of the International Interior Design Association. www.columbiametro.com
David S. Michael, director of technology for Turner Padget Graham & Laney has been named regional vice president of the International Legal Technology Association. Donnell G. Jennings has been named to the General Liability Council of United Educators.
Amy Criswell has been named director of marketing and product development at Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company. Stephen Kelly has been named director of enrollment implementation in the national accounts department. Gregg Martin, CPP, AFPh of Gregg Martin Photographic Design has earned a Platinum Level Photographer of the Year Award from Professional Photographers of America. Larry McClure has celebrated 40 years with Interstate Batteries. Wayne Smith has joined Grubb & Ellis | Wilson Kibler.
Matt Hancock has joined ERA Wilder Realty’s downtown office.
Harold Bell, Jr., Mary Dean, James Johnson, Steve Applewhite and Stacie Sawicki have joined Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS® as sales associates. Coldwell Banker Commercial has been named the #9 company in Commercial Property News- Nielsen’s 2009 Ranking of Most Powerful Brokerage Firms.
Gayle Stephenson has been promoted to event manager at Carolina Event Consultants.
Gus Dixon of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough has received the District Award of Merit from the Congaree District of the Indian Waters Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Vaughan R. Dozier has been promoted to assistant vice-president and commercial banker at First Community Bank.
Tori Anderson of Spherion Corporation has earned certification as a Human Resources Professional.
Jon G. Keith has been named marketing director at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community.
Lisa Hostetler of Rogers Townsend & Thomas has been awarded the Service Above Self Award for 2008-2009 for her service to The Rotary Club of Five Points.
Snap Fitness, a 24/7-health club, has celebrated its grand opening in Columbia. Chris Halkowitz and Cynthia Saunders have been promoted to associate accountants, assurance and advisory services at Scott McElveen. Jonathan Phillips, CPA, has been promoted to in-charge accountant, assurance and advisory services. Scott Nuelken has rejoined Brian Dressler Photography as studio manager. Richardson, Plowden & Robinson lawyers have been named to the 2010 edition of Best Lawyers in America®: Frederick A. Crawford, Francis M. Mack, Frank E. Robinson, II and Franklin J. Smith, Jr.
Palmetto Health Breast Center has been granted a three-year full accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. James Faulkenberry, Mel Clarke, Jr. and Jimmy Doar have been elected to the board of directors of the Printing Industry of the Carolinas.
Ellis, Lawhorne & Sims lawyers have been named to the 2010 edition of Best Lawyers in America®: F. Earl Ellis, Jr., William R. Harbison, Ernest G. Lawhorne, Mary Sowell League, Lana H. Sims, Jr., Rita Bragg Cullum, David C. Sojourner, Karen Hudson Thomas, William O. Higgins, William P. McElveen, Jr., John L. McCants, W. Cliff Moore, III and John T. Lay, Jr.
Ruth Nichols of Providence Hospitals has been awarded the Servant Award. George Zara, president and CEO, has been named chair of the American Heart Association’s 2010 Start! Midlands Heart Walk.
Choice Awards. It also ranked in the top ten in the categories of Best Service, Notable Wine List, Most Booked 1000pt Restaurant, Best Ambiance and Hot Spot.
Rick Eden, director of service operations with The Pollock Company, has been named a top ranking service manager in the 2008-09 Konica Minolta Service Excellence Advantage Program. Andrew Witt, executive director of the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties, has been elected to serve on the Private Sector Council of Americans For the Arts. Robert F. Dozier, Jr. has been elected chair of the Midlands Technical College Commission. I. Jenkins Mikell, III, CLU, has been named Rotarian of the Year by the Capital Rotary Club. Solstice Kitchen and Wine Bar has received Best Overall Restaurant and Best Food honors in OpenTable.com Diner’s
Stephanie Cooper-Lewter has been named senior director of research and special programs of The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina. Carl L. Solomon of Gergel, Nickels and Solomon has been a featured speaker at a seminar sponsored by The National Center for Victims of Crime. Lighthouse Marina has been named the first certified Clean Marina on Lake Murray by the SC Marine Association’s SC Clean Marina program. Lois West has been re-elected to a term on Muscular Dystrophy Association’s national board. Wachovia has been named the 2009 Corporate Chair Sponsor for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s 2009 Walk to Cure Diabetes. James R. Newson has been chosen to represent Wachovia as corporate chair. Toyya Brawley Gray has been named president-elect of the Bar Foundation’s board of directors. Keith Chichester of Chichester Insurance Agency has achieved On Your Farm Certified Agent designation from Nationwide® Agribusiness Insurance Company. Greg Risinger and Jennifer Weed have joined First Citizens Securities. The late S.C. Representative M.J. “Dolly” Cooper has been inducted into the S.C. Wall of Honor at The S.C. Military Museum.
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 33
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS WITH
2nd Wind Heating & Air Conditioning
S
ince 1985, 2nd Wind Heating & Air Conditioning has been providing residents of Greater Columbia, Lexington and all of the Midlands with quality products and superior HVAC technical service. “I came up with the name 2nd Wind at the 19th hole at one of our local country clubs,” says Mickey Lawler, owner and founder. “I had just finished a dismal round of golf and was trying to get motivated to play nine more holes. I had seen so many people in life who were truly looking for their second wind, like me, that it just seemed the perfect name. And so my second service corporation became a reality.”
34 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
(L to R) Brian Lawler, Mickey Lawler, Jeff Lawler
2nd Wind has been selected as the heating and air conditioning company of choice 14 times by the readers of The State newspaper and 4 times by the readers of Columbia Metropolitan magazine. Their competent and professional staff provides customers with courteous and sincere care in numerous home comfort areas, from equipment repairs to energy saving residential maintenance agreements to upgrades of older inefficient systems to newer energy conscious equipment. The sky is the limit when it comes to getting your 2nd Wind!
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
“We are now celebrating our 25th year in business,” says Mickey. “I hope that someday my sons will make the 50th anniversary milestone.” Brian, a former Gamecock baseball player, is now in his 22nd year with the company and oversees the technical and installation staff. Jeff, a former KA president at College of Charleston, is now in his 17th year and manages all dispatch, scheduling, advertising and IT. “Managing our schedule can be challenging at times,” he says, “but with a service fleet of over 30 vehicles and a service staff of 35, we are ready for you to Make 2nd Wind Your 1st Choice!”
O C T O B E R 2009
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS WITH
Benefit Bridge Services
B
enefit Bridge Services is an employee benefits brokerage and advisory firm serving the needs of employers, employees and individuals. We specialize in assisting our business clients in the design, acquisition, enrollment and service of the most effective and cost-efficient employee benefit plans available for today’s workforce. The more employees understand their benefits, the more they appreciate them. Our enhanced communication services improve the value of the employer’s total benefits package. Thus, we enable firms to build more loyal and satisfied workforces and, ultimately, stronger businesses. Our mission is simple: make our clients’ businesses stronger and more competitive within their markets and ensure that they maximize their return on benefits investment by helping their employees understand and appreciate their benefits and total compensation. We take the critical, yet often overlooked, step of spending time with each employee to educate, answer questions and provide personal advice. This ensures that all employees are taking full advantage of their benefit options to provide for their families and financial security. Benefit Bridge Services provides core group insurance coverage, such as health, disability and life plans. We also specialize in voluntary (employeepaid and payroll deducted) insurance programs offered at the worksite. With over 20 years of experience, we are experts in the selection, enrollment and ongoing service of voluntary benefit programs. Our complete product line includes: group and individual health insurance; group, voluntary and individual life insurance; group and voluntary disability insurance; group and voluntary dental insurance; group and voluntary vision insurance; group and individual long term care insurance; and voluntary supplemental health (accident,
cancer, critical illness, medical bridge). Benefit Bridge Services operates nationally via our national enrollment team. This allows us to serve our larger, multi-state clients. By utilizing the most
www.columbiametro.com
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Alex Tate
up-to-date enrollment and HR software, we are able to provide multiple enrollment platforms and enhanced communication services to streamline the benefit enrollment process.
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 35
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS WITH
Steven Ford Interiors Steven Ford
C
olumbia native Steven Ford has been creating beautiful, inviting homes and offices for more than 20 years. With clients from the coast of South Carolina to New York and California, Steven uses his personal style and expertise to create comfortable yet elegant environments. The result is a home or office that reflects the character of
36 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
the client with the polish of a true design professional. Steven Ford Interiors has in recent years developed a commercial division headed by Kathy Blackburn, who joined the firm in 2006. Steven and Kathy bring the special details seen in residential projects to commercial environments. Home staging has become another facet of the firm,
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
helping clients stage their homes for sale or rent, giving them the same high-end look for a fraction of the price. Whether you have a remodeling project or new construction, or you just need a simple makeover, call to book a consultation which includes a site visit and follow up appointment to go over specific plans and ideas.
OCTO J UBN ER E 2009
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS WITH
Carolina Ceramics
S
o you‘re ready to build your dream home. After much deliberation, you have chosen the perfect kitchen sink, the bathtub faucet for your master bath and — hardest of all — the wallpaper for the dining room. But there’s one more decision that has to be made, and it could be one of the most magical decisions of all. Mortar. That’s right, you have to pick the mortar because if you don’t, someone else will. And their selection could make your orange brick look red or your tan stone look pink. Long ago, mortar was all the same — dull grey. Today, there are many, many color choices, from whites and beiges to reds and browns. So when you shop for brick, don’t make a final decision without seeing your favorite brick choices combined with your favorite mortar choices. Abracadabra! With the wave of a mason’s trowel, the house looks strangely different. Okay, perhaps it’s not that simple in real life. But it is that simple on the Internet. Visit www.CarolinaCeramics.com and click on the Color Your Home button. There you can select the brick you have chosen and then try out different mortar colors to see how they affect the home’s appearance. There are brick and mortar colors to mix and match with the click of your mouse. While there, you can also try on different paint colors for the house trim and a variety of roof colors. After all, mortar makes up 20 percent of your brick home’s surface, so it is really an important design element and can make a magical difference in your home’s exterior.
www.columbiametro.com
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 37
FEATURE
art
THE OF PARTY DRESSING
Outfits that will make you Best in Show BY ANNE POSTIC / PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF AMBERG
Dressing is an art, and parties are the best place to show your work. Express your individuality in vintage finery, a custom-made frock or a dress from your favorite boutique with unique accessories to make it your own.
Lauren Frere Columbia Classical Ballet Nicole Miller gold ruched gown ($620) from Ivory Tower. Smoky quartz and peridot necklace ($250), beige pearl drop earrings ($20) and Swarovski crystal ring ($260) from Unforgettable Fine Jewelry. Hair by Johanna Ruffner and Tiffany Dirrim of Austral Salon, where special occasion hairstyles start at $55. Make-up by Elizabeth Baston and Cille Arrendale of Pout, where special occasion make-up starts at $75.
38 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
Katie Smoak Columbia City Ballet Black cocktail dress by LaRoque, made and priced to order. Doublestrand pearl bracelet ($299) and Swarovski crystal ring ($260) from Unforgettable Fine Jewelry.
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 39
Kaleena Burks Columbia Classical Ballet Vintage dress with rhinestone belt ($150) and multi-strand pewter necklace ($35) from Revente. Swarovski crystal earrings ($125) from Unforgettable Fine Jewelry.
40 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
Alicia White Columbia City Ballet Tracy Reese dress ($410) and Rebecca Taylor ethical fur jacket ($358) from VanJean. Evening pouch by Liquid Metal ($167) from Ivory Tower. Swarovski crystal ring ($260) and beige pearl drop earrings ($20) from Unforgettable Fine Jewelry.
Special thanks to the Columbia City Ballet and the Columbia Classical Ballet for providing dancers/models and to Richard Burts for providing 701 Whaley, the location of our fashion shoot.
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 41
FEATURE
Behind the Curtain
Taking a look behind the scenes of local theatres By Chuck Walsh
T
he lights dim, the music starts and the actors take the stage. It’s opening night, and electricity fills the air. Rehearsals are finished, lines have been memorized and now, with a few props and the stage design in place, the actors will turn a scene of make-believe into reality. For the next few hours the audience will be drawn into a world of fantasy, perhaps not realizing that the performers are only part of the crew working to bring the stage to life. Live theatre has long been a part of Columbia. The Town Theatre opened its doors in 1919. More recently, familiar names like Trustus, Workshop and Chapin Community Theatre have joined the list. As a result, the Midlands has become home to a broad expanse of shows ranging from comedy to drama, from musicals to first-run original
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DONNA HARVEY
plays. Naturally, actors are the face of the theatre, and Columbia offers a diverse blend, from actors appearing on stage for the very first time to veterans with years of experience. Some have used local theatre as a springboard to Broadway. Before an actor speaks his first line, however, much has to be done. And in local community theatre, that requires a collection of dedicated people who volunteer their time and effort to make it work. Before a play can be undertaken, the financial rights must be secured. After that, according to Jim DeFelice, president of Chapin Community Theatre, the hiring of the producer and director can then take place. “The CCT board of directors chooses the director,” says Jim, who’s been a part of local theatre since 1990, “and the producer works with the director to choose everyone else, such as the stage manager, the lighting and sound guys, etc.” Jim, who has basically served in every role on stage and off, knows that both director and producer are vital, but they are only pieces of the puzzle. “Acting, costumes, set design, stage management, lighting – all these pieces have to come together to make the play a great experience,” he says. “Lighting may sound like just flipping a switch, but it is vital for effect. The music, choreography – when you see six people on a stage, there’s probably three times that many people behind the scenes helping pull it off.” The director oversees the cast selection, which for Chapin is typically a weeklong process. After the play is cast, the readings begin, while plans are finalized about set design. The director’s role is so time consuming that standard protocol calls for him to receive a small stipend. “At Chapin, the director is involved in artistic interpretation, maybe set design, but for the most part, it’s casting and breaking the play down into scenes to optimize rehearsal,” Jim says. The director must know the true essence of the play to ensure that the ideal actors are cast. The director also should be adept at envisioning the visual aesthetics, which requires working with the set designer to make sure the set enhances the play to make it as believable as possible. When the performance opens, other roles come into play. The stage manager has Donna Harvey is in charge of costume design for all productions at Town Theatre, to make sure everything is ready for each including Guys ‘n Dolls. show and that each prop is in its proper
42 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KARA DEFELICE
Acting, costumes, set design, stage management and lighting all come together to make plays at Chapin Community Theatre a success.
place. He has to coordinate all that takes place behind the scenes while the play unfolds, as backstage can often be as lively as onstage. The house manager and the box office staff are also vital to making sure the audience is as comfortable as possible. For community theatres like CCT, who rely heavily on volunteers, it helps immensely to have Jim DeFelice at the helm, donating untold hours to make local theatre a reality. His passion is contagious for the rest of the crew. For Jim Thigpen, life also revolves around the theatre. As co-founders of Trustus, Jim and his wife, Kay, have spent 25 years bringing nationally recognized shows to Columbia. “We wanted to bring to Columbia the shows they weren’t getting,” Jim says. Jim wears many hats, the most crucial his role as artistic director. “I hire the directors and, artistically, the buck stops here.” He gives complete control to the director as far as choosing the actors. Meanwhile, he and Kay assemble the support staff. “It truly is a mom-and-pop operation, but it takes a lot to put it on. We have part-time folks like the master electrician, sound and set designers, and they are paid show to show.” Jim also oversees planning, which requires not only work, but also money. “Right now we are picking next year’s season,” he says, which isn’t an easy task. “We’ve been trying to get Rent for three years, and it costs $15,000 for the rights.” Rent will be a part of the 20092010 season. Being the smallest theatre in town, seatwise, and the only theatre that pays its actors, Trustus watches its budget carefully. “We’re never that far ahead
www.columbiametro.com
profit-wise, but we’ve made it for 25 years.” Though bringing well-known productions to town is important, it means little if the audience isn’t happy. “Theatre in general has a reputation for being uptight,” says Jim. “We’ve tried to eliminate all the reasons people don’t come. We offer a place where you can wear what you want, we have a bar and we have popcorn at your seats. At Trustus, we want people to have a good time, to laugh and perhaps cry. If they believe what they’re seeing and buy into it, it provides something a movie theater can’t produce.” Jim says that with live theatre, it’s crucial to make a good first impression. “We have one chance. If they’re bored, we’ll never see them again.” As if putting on eight shows a year isn’t enough to keep the Thigpens busy, Trustus offers a Black Box theatre for smaller plays, as well as a children’s theatre. They also offer an apprentice company for high school actors. With live theatre, it’s not uncommon to see a prop fall or an actor slip up on his lines, though Jim has seen worse. “Our very first show, in the fall of ‘85 … it’s opening night, the first scene, and up the stairs come the fire department,” he says with a laugh. A bomb threat had been called in. “After we cleared the place, the actors came back, the audience came back, and we started the show again. We figured nothing else as bad could happen after that.” Aside from the producers and directors, there are other roles just as demanding and vital to a play’s success. For
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 43
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF WORKSHOP THEATRE
Over a 35-year career, Randy Strange has designed sets for a number of productions at Workshop Theatre, including Little Shop of Horrors.
Donna Harvey, costume design began when her son was cast in a play at Town Theatre. She took the term “community theatre” literally and decided to volunteer her time to help the costume director. Four years and 15 shows later, Donna is costume shop coordinator at Town Theatre and is immersed in enough costumes, fur coats, top hats and shoes to sink a ship. Town Theatre typically performs six shows a year, though Donna is unable to do every show because she also stays busy as an elementary schoolteacher. In those cases, she contributes in a consultant role. Town Theatre is blessed with a large costume inventory, a culmination of donations, trips to thrift stores and costumes Donna has made. She also rents costumes when needed. The bigger the show, obviously, the more she has to do. “We had a huge cast for Beauty and the Beast,” says Donna. “I had two racks of costumes for children that I made. Fortunately I can do a lot at home, though it took me about six
44 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
weeks to prepare for it.” She estimated she worked 10-hour days for about a month to get ready for that show. Dress rehearsals are helpful in eliminating costume malfunctions. However, once the show begins, Donna stands ready. “I come in every night to mend costumes or to help if something has to be located such as lost clothing.” She works closely with the director to make sure they are on the same track as far as costume preferences. “I’ve gotten to know what the directors want, and I can see what they see.” Donna also works with the set director to coordinate colors for the set and with the producer to get time frames for each show. Though Donna has a creative streak, she admits her creations don’t always magically pop into her head. Costume plots are available sometimes, but more times than not Donna will search online to find what she will need. “Thank God for the Internet,” she says with a grin. “Sometimes I’ll search other productions of shows I’m not familiar with to get a feel for the plot or the era in which it takes place.” As each play unfolds, Donna is always planning ahead. “My next show is The Odd Couple. Once they cast I’ll talk to the director.” Casting usually takes place six weeks before the show opens, and then the costume coordinating cycle begins. Sandra Willis, the executive director of Town Theatre, says without people like Donna, there would be no theatre. “Being a community theatre, we rely on a lot of volunteers to make it work,” Sandra says, though Donna receives a stipend for her work. Town Theatre, which specializes in familyoriented musicals and comedies, is the oldest continuously running community theatre in the country. Sandra began helping the theatre 25 years ago and has always enjoyed the casual feeling. “We try to be accessible,
warm and welcoming to everyone. We like to say, ‘Dress up or dress down, but come to Town.’” For Randy Strange, designing sets for Workshop Theatre has been a 35year process. “I began as a volunteer in 1975,” Randy says, “and I’ve been doing it ever since.” He also serves on the play selection committee. He reads each script so he can envision what the set should look like. “If you don’t read the script beforehand, you’ll be lost,” he says. Each play offers a unique challenge, like High School Musical, where up to 30 actors dance on stage. “With a play like High School Musical, you have to design your sets so you can still give the cast as much footprint to dance on as possible.” Randy works closely with the director and the choreographer to see what they want, laying down ideas of the stage for them to visualize. “Sometimes I’ll build models of sets, and sometimes I’ll do ground plans, which is the footprint of the stage drawn out on paper.” With shows like The Producers and High School Musical, Randy makes use of the cast to move the sets around in between scenes. “Once the show starts, I try not to get in the way unless there’s something missing.” Before opening night begins, rehearsal is crucial for finding glitches and removing the kinks. Though Randy does the design work, he has volunteers to help him build and paint. Still, his dance card is always filled. “I work 10-hour days seven days a week when preparing for shows. It’s labor intensive, so you have to love it or you wouldn’t do it.” The show must go on, as they say. For local theatre, the show can’t go on without the dedication of hard working people who truly love the theatre and who love what they’re doing. It’s true – the theatre would be nothing without the actors, but if not for the crew and slew of people who work tirelessly behind the scenes, opening night would never be a reality.
O C T O B E R 2009
FEATURE
Pencil it in COLUMBIA’S ARTS CALENDAR 2009
Dance Carolina Ballet 771-6303 www.carolinaballet.net Oct. 3 to 4 Romeo and Juliet, CMFA ArtSpace, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27 to 29 The Nutcracker, Koger Center, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Columbia City Ballet 799-7605 www.columbiacityballet.com Oct. 29 to 31 Dracula, Koger Center, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 to 11, 16 to 18 Frosty, Koger Center, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. Dec. 11 to 13, 18 to 20 The Nutcracker, Koger Center, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Columbia City Jazz Dance Company and School 252-0252 www.columbiacityjazz.com Oct. 11 Master Class: Hip Hop with Ivan Koumaev, varying times Oct. 24 Master Class: Hip Hop with Tre Holloway, varying times
Columbia Classical Ballet 252-9112 www.columbiaclassicalballet.org Oct. 16 Hunchback of Notre Dame, Koger Center, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 to 6 The Nutcracker, Koger Center, 9:30 a.m., 3 and 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28 to Nov. 3 Beeswax, varying times Nov. 10 Herb & Dorothy and TalkBack, 6 p.m. Nov. 21 The Rescuers, 10 a.m. Dec. 5 The Neverending Story, 10 a.m.
USC Dance Company 777-5636 www.cas.sc.edu/dance Oct. 2 to 3 On the Edge, Koger Center, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 Peter and the Wolf, Koger Center, 3 p.m. Nov. 6 to 7 American at Heart, Koger Center, 7:30 p.m.
Music
Film Nickelodeon Theatre 254-8234 www.nickelodeon.org Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 World’s Greatest Dad, varying times Oct. 13 Flow: How Did a Handful of Companies Steal Our Water? and TalkBack, 6 p.m. Oct. 24 Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, 10 a.m.
Columbia Choral Society 933-9060 www.columbiachoralsociety.org Oct. 17 “Te Deum” by Franz Joseph Haydn with the SC Philharmonic, Koger Center, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25 “Te Deum” and “Mass No. 3 in D Minor” by Franz Joseph Haydn, Washington Street United Methodist Church, 4 p.m. Columbia Community Concert Band cccb.bandlink.org Oct. 16 Concert, Chapin United Methodist Church, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 Holiday Concert, Lexington Baptist Church, 7:30 p.m.
Columbia Music Festival Association 771-6303 www.cmfaonline.com Oct. 2 to 3 Dance Wordz, CMFA ArtSpace, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 to 10 Torch ’09, CMFA ArtSpace, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Oct. 23 to 24 Power Company, CMFA ArtSpace, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 12 to 13 Vibrations, CMFA ArtSpace, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Lexington County Choral Society 359-8794 www.lexcochoralsc.org Dec. 15 “The Joy of Christmas”, Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, 7:30 p.m. Palmetto Mastersingers 765-0777 www.palmettomastersingers.org Oct. 3 Concert at Saluda Shoals Oct. 10 SC State Trooper’s Fallen Trooper Memorial, Virginia Wingard Memorial United Methodist Church, 3 p.m. Nov. 11 Veteran’s Day Celebration, Lexington Town Hall, 3 p.m. Dec. 4 Christmas Concert, Newberry Opera House Dec. 10 Christmas Concert, Koger Center, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 Concert, Glenforest School, 7 p.m. Dec. 17 Union County Arts The Palmetto Opera 776-0526 www.palmettoopera.org Oct. 23 “La Boheme Meets the Three Baritones”, Dreher High School Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Sandlapper Singers 381-5481 www.sandlappersingers.org Oct. 16 “American Faces”, Dreher High School Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
The Columbia Music Festival Association presents Vibrations
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 45
USC Symphony Orchestra 251-2222 www.music.sc.edu Oct. 20 With the Shiraz Trio: Scott Herring, Susan Powell and Joseph Krygier, Koger Center, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 With Haim Avitsur, shofar & trombone, Koger Center, 7:30 p.m.
Theatre
Mt. Williamson by Ansel Adams, on display at the Columbia Museum of Art
Dec. 18 “American Graces Christmas Concert”, Dreher High School Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. South Carolina Philharmonic 771-7937 www.scphilharmonic.com Oct. 17 Oktoberfest, Master Series 2, Koger Center, 7:30p.m. Nov. 12 Journeys, Master Series 3, Koger Center, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 Jingle All the Way, Koger Center, 8 p.m. USC School of Music 777-7000 www.music.sc.edu Oct. 1 Zach Marshall, Doctoral Voice Recital, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 1 John Sampen, Guest Artist Saxophone Recital, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 Southern Exposure Series presents Real Quiet, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 Cornelia Freeman University September Concert Series #5, 3 p.m. Oct. 5 Peter Barton, Doctoral Voice Recital, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 5 Ronald Davis, Faculty Tuba Recital, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6 Graduate Vocal Ensemble Concert, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 6 Michael LaRoche, Doctoral Voice Recital, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 Douglas Black, Senior Tuba Recital, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 Steven Wulff, Graduate Percussion Recital, 3 p.m. Oct. 14 Steven Sloan, Graduate Guitar Recital, 7:30 p.m.
46 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
Oct. 16 Caitlin Chase, Junior Voice Recital, 4 p.m. Oct. 16 Mary-Therese Heintzkill, Graduate Voice Recital, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 19 Sara Shelton, Junior Voice Recital, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 23 Melanie Pozdol, Senior Oboe, Recital 4 p.m. Oct. 23 Yuri Ito, Graduate Piano Recital, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 25 Bob Ligon and Keli Price, Junior Trumpet Recital, 3 p.m. Oct. 30 Sarah Cleaton, Senior Viola Recital, 4 p.m. Oct. 30 Benjamin N. Fowler, Graduate Piano Recital, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 30 Brenda Leonard, Doctoral Cello Recital, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 Oswaldo Arley Zapata, Graduate Trumpet Recital, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 Elizabeth Riley, Junior Cello Recital, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 Lauren Pierce, Double Bass Junior Recital, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16 Kellye Natella and Jeff Barnhill, Senior Horn Recital, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16 Loren Taylor and Tiffany Mathis, Student Flute Recital, 6 p.m. Nov. 20 Brian Wilmer, Senior Clarinet Recital, 4 p.m. Nov. 20 Ira Thomas, Junior Piano Recital, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 Serena Hill, Doctoral Voice Recital, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 Alma Semic, Doctoral Guitar Recital, 4 p.m. Dec. 4 Andre North, Senior Saxophone Recital, 4 p.m.
Chapin Community Theatre 345-6181 www.chapintheatre.org Through Oct. 3 Deathtrap, 8 p.m. Dec. 3 to 19 Christmas Belles, 8 p.m. Columbia Children’s Theatre 691-4548 columbiachildrenstheatre.com Nov. 27 to 29, Dec. 4 to 6 Frosty, Midtown at Forest Acres, 10:30 a.m., 2, 3, and 7 p.m. Columbia Marionette Theatre 252-7366 www.columbiamarionettetheatre.org Snow White will run every Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m from October through December and every third Monday at 10 a.m. Theatre South Carolina (Longstreet Theatre) 777-2551 www.cas.sc.edu/thea Sept. 25 to Oct. 4 Cyrano de Bergerac, 7 p.m. Nov. 13 to 22 Radium Girls, 7 p.m. Town Theatre 799-2510 www.towntheatre.com Sept. 18 to Oct. 10 The King and I, 8 p.m. Nov. 6 to 21 Moon Over Buffalo, 8 p.m. Trustus 254-9732 www.trustus.org Through Oct. 3 The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, 7:30 and 8 p.m. Oct. 23 to Nov. 14 Extremities, 7:30 and 8 p.m. Dec. 4 to Jan 23 Rent, 7:30 and 8 p.m.
Village Square Theatre 359-1436 www.villagesquaretheatre.com Oct. 2 to 11 Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap Dec. 4 to 14 Miracle on 34th Street Workshop Theatre 799-4876 www.workshoptheatre.com Nov. 6 to 21 Same Time, Next Year, 8 p.m. Dec. 10 to 13 ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, S. Claus?, 8 p.m.
Venues The Colonial Life Arena 576-9200 www.coloniallifearena.com Nov. 28 Miley Cyrus, 7 p.m. Nov. 29 Trans-Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour 2009, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes, 5pm The Koger Center 251-2222 koger.sc.edu Oct. 7 United States Air Force Band, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 Hip Hop Legends: Return of the Classics, 8 p.m. Oct. 10 Carmine Caruso Jazz Trumpet Competition, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 Classic Productions for Students presents Junie B. Jones, 9:45 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Oct. 21 to 22 Broadway in Columbia presents Tap Dogs, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 Celtic Woman, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2 USC Wind Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 Chamber Theatre Company presents Encore, 10:30 a.m. Nov. 15 South Carolina Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, 3:00 p.m. Nov. 22 Palmetto Concert Band, 4 p.m. Newberry Opera House (803) 276-6264 www.newberryoperahouse.com Oct. 2 The Blackwood Quartet,
O C T O B E R 2009
Haim Avitsur performs with the USC Symphony Orchestra
8 p.m. Oct. 9 Janis Ian, 8 p.m. Oct. 11 Chamber Orchestra of the Kremlin, 3 p.m. Oct. 15 Little River Band, 8 p.m. Oct. 18 Asleep at the Wheel, 3 p.m. Oct. 21 Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company, 8 p.m. Oct. 23 Artie Shaw Orchestra, 8 p.m. Oct. 30 The Greencards, 8 p.m. Nov. 4 American Revival, 8 p.m. Nov. 6 The Four Freshmen, 8 p.m. Nov. 7 Eddie Miles, 8 p.m. Nov. 8 Maurice Williams, 7 p.m. Nov. 10 The King’s Singers, 8 p.m. Nov. 11 GRITS - The Musical, 3 and 8 p.m. Nov. 12 USC Music Concert, 8 p.m. Nov. 13 Nanci Griffith, 8 p.m. Nov. 15 Jonathan Edwards, 3 p.m. Nov. 17 JIGU! Thunder Drums of China, 8 p.m. Nov. 19 Edwin McCain, 8 p.m. Nov. 21 Robert Earl Keen, 8 p.m. Nov. 22 Robert Jesselson, 3 p.m. Dec. 3 Percy Sledge, 8 p.m. Dec. 5 Jerry Douglas, John Oates and Maura O’Connell, 8 p.m. Dec. 6 Camelot, 3 and 8 p.m. Dec. 8 The Flamingos featuring Terry Johnson, 8 p.m. Dec. 9 282nd Army “Victory” Band, 8 p.m. Dec. 10 Emile Pandolfi, 8 p.m. Dec. 11 Happy Holidays: The Happiest Holiday Chorus line of Broadway, 3 and 8 p.m. Dec. 12 208th Charlotte Army Band, 8 p.m. Dec. 13 B. J. Thomas, 3 and 8 p.m. Dec. 14 A Viennese Christmas: Sigmund Romberg Orchestra, 3 and 8 p.m. Dec. 17 Rocky Fretz, 8 p.m.
www.columbiametro.com
Dec. 20 The Lettermen, 3 and 8 p.m. Dec. 31 Big Band New Year’s Eve, 8 p.m. Wingard’s Nursery 359-9091 www.wingardsnursery.com Oct. 9 4th Annual Art in the Garden Rendezvous with the Blues
Johns/Robert Rauschenberg: 20th Century Masters in the Collection Through Oct. 18 Children of Hope 2009 Through Oct. 25 About Face Members’ Showcase Oct. 14 to Feb. 7 Larry Clark: Tulsa Oct. 23 to Jan. 17 Ansel Adams: Masterworks From the Collection of the Turtle Bay Exploration Center, Redding, CA Oct. 23 to Jan. 17 The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection: Fifty Works for Fifty States Gallery Installations Oct. 23 to Jan. 17 From Behind the Lens FAMILY PROGRAMS
Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 7 Wee Wednesdays, 10 to 11 a.m. Oct. 11, Dec. 13 Passport to Art,
Fair and Sale, noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 29, Dec. 9 Wadsworth & Friends Concert Series Beginning in December About Face Weekly Drawing Sessions Mondays, topics vary 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, portrait drawing 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, figure drawing 7:15 to 9:15 p.m. First Wednesday & Friday, long pose 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. HoFP Gallery 799-7405 www.hofpgallery.com Oct. 22 Artist’s reception for Maya Eventov, 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 22 to Nov. 14 Maya Eventov show
Visual Art The Arts & Taste of Chapin 345-1100 Oct. 11 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. City Art 252-3613 www.cityartonline.com Oct. 2 to 3 Watercolor Workshop: Energize Your Personal Painting Style, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 8 to 31 Alex Powers show Oct. 15 Reception for the artist, 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30 to 31 Acrylic Workshop: Fun with Color and Design!, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 12 to 30 Group Exhibition Nov. 19 Reception for Vista Lights, 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3 to 31 Group Exhibition Columbia Design League www.columbiadesignleague.org Nov. 6 Austin W. Purvis lecture, 6 p.m. Columbia Museum of Art 799-2810 www.columbiamuseum.org EXHIBITIONS
Through Oct. 4 JJ/RR Jasper
Galaxys Empire from the Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection, on display at the Columbia Museum of Art
12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 17 Sew Scary!, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 9, Oct. 16, Nov. 13, Nov. 20, Dec. 11 One Room Schoolhouse, 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m. SPECIAL EVENTS
Oct. 30 Masquerade de Macabre, The Contemporaries Black & White Ball, 8 p.m. Nov. 12 Ladies Night Out, 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 15 Museum Shop Artisans’
if ART 255-0068 ifartgallery.blogspot.com Oct. 16 to 27 David West show Saluda Shoals Park 213-2035 www.unearthsaluda.org Oct. 1 to 4 unearth, a celebration of naturally inspired art This calendar will be continually updated at www.columbiametro.com through the end of the year.
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 47
HOME STYLE
ColorHer
The soft blues of a recovered Art Deco armchair, which is adorned with a small chocolate swirl bolster pillow, direct your eyes into the myriad of reds, yellows and blues of Alicia Leeke’s formal dining room. 48 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
World
By Margaret Gregory Photography by Robert Clark
Artist Alicia Leeke’s vibrant home
C
olor is an important part of artist Alicia Leeke’s world. In her paintings, bright dots of swirls and sweeps – when viewed from just a few steps back – become images of majestic mountains
Alicia combines her love of old world art with her own interpretation to create abstracts, landscapes and cityscapes.
www.columbiametro.com
and winds sweeping through grassy fields below or cityscapes of people drifting by Paris sidewalk cafés. Alicia always knew that art was something for which she had a passion, but not until a year ago did she really
embrace it. In 2008, she gave up life in the corporate world and turned to creating her paintings as a full-time artist. A native of Columbia, she studied art in college, and now she’s sharing her art around the country with upcoming shows in Chicago and New York. “These are juried shows, ‘one-of-a-kind’ shows, to which you have to receive an invitation,” says Alicia, “so I’m very excited about participating in these.” Alicia’s love for art is evident, as her home is filled not only with her own artwork but also with the works of artists for whom she has a great admiration. “Art is what makes the personality of a house,” she says, and her home has both in spades. With a selection of paintings, prints and mixed media works from Marcello Novo, Jean Capalbo, Jamie Blackburn and Bill Davis, Alicia’s home truly is her personal art gallery. Influenced by some of the great French Impressionists, Alicia combines her love of old world art with her own interpretation to create abstracts, landscapes and cityscapes. “I am really inspired by a lot of different painters,” she says, “and my work is really a melding of all of those artists that I love, a process which I call Fabaism. I don’t limit myself to just one thing.” Her home is influenced by those loves as well, with a unique blend of contemporary furnishings and more traditional pieces. Her den is flanked on one wall with an oversized sectional while across the room sits an Asian armoire. Hanging above the sofa is a portrait of a guitar player by Russian painter Nikolay Oskolkov and a palette-knife painting she created called Amboise, a landscape of a French village in the Loire Valley. From the sofa, guests can muse over a large painting by Amanda Thorne Suber, one of Alicia’s favorite artists, as well as a glass wallart creation by Steve Hewitt and two smaller paintings by Tony Cacalano, under whom she studied. Alicia truly believes that art and rugs make a house – and she has several well-chosen Tabriz, Bokhara
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 49
The antique high-back carved double bed gives the bedroom an eclectic, old world feel.
and Hamadan rugs placed throughout. She hopes that more people will focus on placing original paintings in their homes. “Many people buy posters and open edition prints to match their sofas, but I hope that one day they will start buying sofas to match their art,” she laughs. The soft blues of a recovered Art Deco armchair, which is adorned with an animal print throw pillow and small chocolate swirl bolster pillow, direct your eyes into the myriad of
reds, yellows and blues of her formal dining room. The Duncan Fife dining table and china cabinet belonged to her grandmother on the Leeke side of the family, and on it sits a large, blue, hand-blown glass bowl. To the right is one of her prized possessions, an inlaid Asian teacart Alicia had refinished and restored. Embellishing it is an antique, four-chamber decanter that belonged to “Granelle,” a nickname created to identify her other grandmother. Decking the floor of the quaint
Alicia has stacks of both unfinished and complete works in the studio portion of her home.
50 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
breakfast nook is an earth-colored Herati rug along with a cozy decorative iron wine rack and matching wrought iron and wood table set. To the left of the table is a print of Montmarte leading up the hill to Sacre- Coeur Basilica by Maurice Utrillo. “I wanted this room to feel like a Parisian café,” she notes. Each of her guest rooms is an eclectic blend of old world and contemporary, complete with antique beds, recovered furnishings and favorite paintings including an abstract by Carol Ann Rose and a print of Notre Dame by Maurice Utrillo. Alicia points out that some of her best eclectic finds include the Asian armoire and Art Deco chair that were acquired through Don Danford of D. Martin Interiors. Alicia created her own spacious studio in the downstairs portion of her home. The tiled floor and Persian rug accent, along with the open arches that Alicia and a former roommate cut into the walls, give the room a feeling of an art gallery. Paints are scattered along the bottom of her easel, and a large painting waits patiently for the brush strokes that will bring it to life. “I am experimenting with a new body of work – that regardless of which way the painting is held, either right-side-up or upside-down, you will
O C T O B E R 2009
“Art is what makes the personality of a house,” Alicia says.
pieces find new homes,” she smiles. While she’s painting full time, Alicia also has plans for her house as well. “I want to make it more like a French chateau,” she says, “adding iron work shutters to the windows and a grandiose, hand-forged arched door to the entryway. This house is like a painting; it’s a work in progress!”
Alicia’s work can be seen at several locations around Columbia, including Nonnah’s, House Brand Furniture, Bank of America on Main Street and Tombo Grille. She also will have a showing of new cityscape and landscape paintings at Frame of Mind on Main Street in Columbia, with the opening reception to be held October 8 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
be able see a separate painting from either direction on a single canvas,” she says. “It’s more of what I leave out of a painting that makes it interesting,” she adds. “You don’t need every single detail for the painting to create the image in your mind.” How long does she spend in creating her pieces? Alicia prefers to work on her paintings alla prima, or all in one sitting. “But there are some paintings that may take a year,” she says. “It simply depends on the piece and the number of layers involved.” Because her home sits at the edge of Quinine Hill Lake, Alicia often takes her easel outdoors to paint en plein air, capturing the light and constantly changing atmosphere surrounding the lake. “Natural lighting makes a huge difference in the intensity of color in my work, and color and movement is what draws people into my paintings,” she adds. For inspiration, Alicia has traveled to Paris, Venice and New York, photographing many of the scenes that she later translates to the canvas. “I’d love to do some more work in New York,” she says. “Some cities just captivate me more with their tall buildings and light. New York has a great deal of character with its iridescent light. Columbia is also one of these cities whose buildings provide a lot of inspiration.” Alicia sometimes finds it hard to let go of paintings into which she has put so much of her own personal feelings and energy. “I’ll usually hold onto certain pieces for a period of time, and then I’ll paint something else that I love even more. It’s not until that point I can let the other
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 51
HOME STYLE
Complementary Pairs Artists whose lives, side by side, intensify one another By Robin Cowie Nalepa Photography by Jeff Amberg
Kara Gunter and Lee Swallie
Lee Swallie lines up a series of screen prints he and his fiancée, Kara Gunter, collaborated on several years ago. The couple worked together on the pieces, experimenting with a technique in which neither was trained. They brought with them what they knew – structure for Kara and organic form for Lee. They experimented. They adapted. “Lee pulled my chaos together,” says Kara, which the couple admits was a bit of a role reversal. In the series, dominant blocks of yellows and reds eventually give way to streaks of blues and greens reminiscent of rain on a windowpane. Each print contains the same elements brought by each artist, yet hard edges morph into something gentler. And though not representative of either artist’s style, the series evolved much like its creators’ relationship. Kara and Lee were high school sweethearts at Lexington High School more than a decade ago. They admit back then it was more a love/hate relationship in which they were perfect for one another. After giving their relationship a break for several years and pursuing their individual studies in art, they reunited three years ago. Time had mellowed them: Lee is a little more laid back, Kara is less shy and more confident. It appeared that each one’s personal approach to art had provided a therapeutic release.
52 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
Kara Gunter and Lee Swallie
Lee specializes in lithography, a printmaking technique. He trained at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts and recently graduated with a BFA from USC. He branched out from his traditional training to mix abstractions and figures, etchings with paintings. His work reflects an intensity that radiates from his deep-set eyes and tall frame, not to mention his slashing, pressured strokes. The contrasts of light and dark resonate with Lee. He strives to bring order to the underlying chaos in his work, he explains. Kara prefers structure and repetition – jumbles of decaying lemons, rows of
little pig faces, masses of clapper-less bells. Her art tells of personal struggles, from health issues to feelings of vulnerability. She tried to explore bigger issues in her studies for her MFA at USC but discovered her more personal work translated with greater depth and meaning. Ceramics dominate Kara’s art. She casts objects, creates and fills plaster molds with clay or slip and builds largescale installations that hang from walls or ceilings. One installation hung in the Carillon Building in Charlotte. Kara began teaching art at Lander University this fall.
O C T O B E R 2009
Between preparing for shows, teaching classes and summer camp at the Columbia Museum of Art and teaching out of Lee’s new studio that opened on Main Street in Lexington, the couple has little time for other pursuits. But when they find time to relax, they cozy up together with their dog, Maebelle. “Some couples can’t bring their careers into their relationship,” says Lee. “We help each other with the entire process.” Kara and Lee aren’t planning on any future artistic collaborations – except of course a marriage somewhere down the road.
Both artists will be showing their work this fall at S.C. State University in Orangeburg. Kara’s work will be on display Sept. 25 − Oct. 20, and Lee’s will be shown Nov. 2 − 24. Contact the artists at lexartclass.com or (803) 808-9852.
David and Ellen Yaghjian
When a young Ellen Emerson found out that her new acquaintance was not only a talented artist but that they shared the same birth day and month, she had just one thought: “He doesn’t know this, but we are definitely getting married.” She was right. Twenty-five years later, David and Ellen Yaghjian can look back on a full
life as partners, parents, artists and friends. Recently, David and Ellen spent the morning in David’s studio at Vista Studios Gallery 80808. They drank coffee, ate danishes and talked about their journey together. David and Ellen met at a Bastille Day dinner and party at a friend’s home in 1984. They remember talking for hours and hours about philosophy and art. “Ellen and I had the same vocabulary – not verbally, but emotionally,” remembers David. The birthday revelation came when Ellen visited the home of David’s father, Edmund Yaghjian (pronounced Yaa-jin), renowned S.C. painter and
David and Ellen Yaghjian
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 53
David West and Taryn Shekitka-West
influential USC art department chair. Soon David showed Ellen his own work, a commissioned portrait which had brought him to Columbia from North Carolina. He jokes he may have been fishing for compliments. He got them. Ellen was floored. “He was the real thing,” she says. “I believe the art was a huge connection.” After meeting Ellen, David decided to return to Columbia. A year later, the two headed to Atlanta, where David’s art reflected the hulking landscapes of concrete overpasses and snaking interstates. Ellen later learned this was his way of dealing with the aggressive and impersonal pace of the growing metropolis. Ellen’s focus shifted from her high-stress job at Turner Broadcasting to her own dreams. Also an artist, she had studied sculpture at the University of Georgia before pursuing a career in production and film. While in Atlanta, with the help of synchronicity, she did something she’d never done before – designed and installed her first commission, a hammered copper fountain with curves and cascades. “It was a leap off a cliff,” she says. Early on the couple chose to talk things out instead of fight or retreat, as David had learned to do being raised with three sisters. Ellen gave him space to
54 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
think and feel without being condemned, he says. So one day Ellen asked her husband what he would do on the first day after she died. Move out of Atlanta, he replied. Today the couple lives in Shandon in the same home they purchased when they moved back to Columbia almost a decade ago. They are entrenched in the local arts community, which they find richer and tighter than the one they left. Their lives and art have settled into a rhythm punctuated by Ellen’s easy laugh and David’s quiet awareness. David often walks to his gallery where he works 20 to 30 hours a week. He works from imagination rather than observation now. Precise architectural paintings with perfectly trimmed boxwoods and plastic lawn chairs have been replaced by a bald, paunchy everyman, who sometimes resembles his creator. The curious, enthralling and, at times, disturbing paintings deal with aging and feature the fellow in varied settings from circus rings to swimming pools. Many include animals and mythological symbols that appeal to David. “I can’t understand it while I’m doing it, but that’s not my job,” says David. “My job is to paint the stuff.” Ellen works on her creations from her backyard studio that range from small copper figures to large water
features. She draws, molds 3-D models from cardboard and then works with a fabricator to create the actual pieces. She is currently involved in her largest private commission to date, a seven-foot memorial fountain with a controlled pool for philanthropist Alice Richards and her husband Roy to be installed at Southwire Company in Carrollton, Ga. Ellen balances out the harshness and physicality of working with her copper pieces with yoga, which she also teaches. David describes Ellen as a sage when it comes to emotional intelligence and appreciates that she is a good mother to their daughter, Clare. Clare also is an artist, and her batiks, crocheted three-foot goblin and wireworked sculptures resemble no ordinary kid art. The graduate of the International Baccalaureate program at A.C. Flora is attending Smith College this fall. From Clare’s standpoint, her artistic parents have always done what they love, what makes them happy, even with a few bumps in the road. “They’ve been good support for each other,” says Clare. “They value each other.” David’s work will be presented at a show at if ART Gallery from Oct. 16 − Oct. 27. Contact David or Ellen at (803) 252-6134 or dyaghjian@sc.rr.com. See Ellen’s work at www.scfountain.com.
O C T O B E R 2009
Taryn Shekitka-West and David West
When David West proposed to Taryn Shekitka it seemed only fitting that he would pull the ring from his artist box and pop the question in front of their friends at an About Face event at the Columbia Museum of Art. A mutual attraction, a sly remark (Taryn’s) and an encroaching easel (David’s) at an About Face figure drawing session months earlier had drawn the couple together. A first date immediately followed, where David met Taryn’s parents, who were dropping by on the way out of town for vacation, and then the new friends all but ignored the rental movie they planned to watch and talked the entire evening. “After that I was stuck with him,” says Taryn, laughing. The couple married in 2007 and now shares a comfortable bungalow in Cayce with their four cats, Jessie, Cree, Espie and Amie. The walls of their home hang heavy with drawings and paintings – his, hers and friends’. The differences in their artistic styles are evident. Some of Taryn’s art appears as bright, colorful abstractions. On other canvases, live oaks twist their gnarly arms. In the kitchen, one water droplet impression takes up an entire painted frame. Taryn’s work embodies a sense of simplicity as she is able to distill an object to its true essence, explains David. David’s style appears more technical. Charcoal figures and portraits invite study. He holds a BFA in painting but has drawn since childhood. He considers himself a “Jack-of-all-arts.” Graphic design, illustration and web development with his company Live2Create Interactive, Inc. have long paid bills. Yet David’s mastery of classical technique wins him awards and fine arts commissions such as a recent oil reproduction of “Nana,” a late 19th century painting originally created by Russian artist Martseli Suchorowsky. In stark contrast, a whimsical illustration like “Ninja Cats” depicts the Wests’ feline brood on a stealth mission clad in masks and armed with swords.
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 55
“He could almost spit on a canvas and it would turn out good,” says Taryn. The couple enjoys spending time working on their art together and shares a backyard studio. Neither are Columbia natives, yet both feel at home here, as both have a long family lineage from the area. Taryn, who paints as Taryn Shekitka, settled in the area after attending Columbia College and USC. David relocated to the area after a stint with the Navy. On a summer afternoon, the couple sits across from one another describing their art and lives. They have an easy manner, which allows them to playfully tease and joke. Taryn refers to David, 38, as a big teddy bear with salt and pepper hair. “He blames the salt on me,” Taryn, 31, says with a smile, which is returned by her husband. It’s obvious David is taken by Taryn’s quirky ways and is quick to call her beautiful (and did so this particular afternoon even before he could not recall her favorite flower – a lipstick rose). While art and shared dreams give them focus in their relationship, how they handle their differences allows them space and balance. “I’m a rice and stewed tomato kind of girl; he’s an hour-long prep kind of guy,” says Taryn. Taryn keeps their lives organized by planning weeks out on the bathroom mirror, including a reminder for David to check the beer brewing under the couple’s bed. Apparently, it isn’t inconceivable he might forget it’s there. They don’t talk politics, as their views differ greatly. She doesn’t drive his motorcycle. He prefers to grocery shop alone but leaves clothes shopping to her. They admit to fighting passionately at times, sometimes over little things. Yet, they prefer to focus on the bigger picture: a relationship based on respect that thrives despite – or perhaps because – of their individual styles. Email David West at zone13art@gmail.com or Taryn Shekitka-West at nyrat311@yahoo.com.
56 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 57
HOME STYLE
Delectable Masterpieces MAKING YOUR ENTREE A WORK OF ART By Susan Fuller Slack, CCP / Photography by Robert Clark / Food Styling by Susan Fuller Slack, CCP
“Cooking may be as much of a means of self-expression as any of the arts.” – Fanny Farmer, The Boston School Cook Book
F
ood and art are two of life’s essentials. Food feeds our bodies; art feeds our souls. But the art world has long debated the question, “Can food be art?” Critics question whether the worlds of cuisine and art should be pursued as separate disciplines or merged into one. Culinary philosophers ponder whether food has a deeper meaning than something that exists only to be eaten. The world has a long tradition of food in art. Murals depicting food were excavated in Roman homes at Herculaneum and Pompeii. Archaeologists discovered food drawings on the walls of Egyptian pyramids. Renaiss ance painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s virtuoso imagination inspired fantasy portraits of heads made entirely of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Mid 17th century artists began in earnest to depict foods in still-life paintings. Food as art is portrayed in the works of Post-Impressionist painters Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Cézanne, regarded as “the father of modern art.”
58 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
In the early 20th century, contemporary sculptors and painters from the short-lived Futurism art movement and the Surrealism cultural movement began creating art that featured food as the art medium. It was offbeat at the time, especially when their “masterpieces” began to decay. Early non-traditional exhibitions of the period were often plagued by rancid, flyblown, moldy artworks. Countless museums and galleries now offer exhibits allowing artists to present their interpretations of food as art. The Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C., is one of many institutions with sculpture exhibits crafted from chocolate. Produce artists work with fruits and vegetables; other artists experiment with bizarre items like chocolate syrup, peanut butter and jelly, honey and mayonnaise. Artists are discovering better ways to stabilize their art pieces. Culinary masterpieces of all genres are regularly featured on Food Network, in magazines and books and on the Internet. Like a painting, symphony or poem, food speaks to the generations, but in the form of passed-down heirloom recipes and “memory-taste.” At the very least, food is a craft-medium that can be elevated to a fine art, conveying inspiration, nostalgia or humor.
It is the viewer who decides what constitutes a work of art. Almost everyone relates to food and can find an immediate association to food-art, which satisfies all the senses including smell and taste. Food-art may not last forever, but like a flower in full bloom, our appreciation should focus on the enjoyment it provides during the moment it exists.
WORKING THE PLATE
Several tricks can help bring your table to life; however, always consider your food’s flavor first. When assured your food tastes delicious from the first bite to the last, then address its visual impact. The old adage that says we eat with our eyes is true. Food should always look as good as it tastes. Decorative tableware, plating tricks, seasonal g arnishes and edible centerpieces can work together to enhance the presentation of a meal, especially at holiday time. Temper it all with a dash of restraint and common sense regarding your abilities and available time. White plates are a blank canvas, ready to be painted with food colors, textures, shapes and arrangements. Plate smashing, a quirky but charming Greek restaurant custom, is a practice that has been adopted by some modern chefs who then carefully arrange their foods
O C T O B E R 2009
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 59
TIPS FOR
Pretty Plates
Eat Local. Eat Fresh. Eat in Season. Buy produce in a variety of colors and shapes at a farmers’ market – excellent for creating food art.
Fall pomegranates have nutritious jewel-like seeds that taste fruity, tart and crunchy. Sprinkle them on green salads, fruit salads, winter squash dishes and desserts.
Store produce in a refrigerator crisper designed for fruits and vegetables. Watch the setting; if too cold, it may spoil your produce.
Fall turnips are rich in vitamin C and can be thin-sliced and cut into flower shapes with a metal cookie cutter for decorating food plates.
Chicken potpie, macaroni and cheese or lasagna are more attractive when baked and served in individual dishes.
Fill plastic squeeze bottles from the drug store or beauty supply house with colorful sweet or savory sauces to decorate food and plates.
on pieces of the broken remains. Fortunately, stores offer a large variety of amazing, unique dishware for sale today; you won’t have to resort to throwing your plates on the floor. The Japanese are famous for the ornamental arrangements of their toobeautiful-to-eat plates characterizing
60 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
Kaiseki Ryori – the eleg ant tea ceremony cuisine. Consider a selection of eclectic Asian plates and bowls in unique shapes and sizes. They’re often mixed and matched within a meal (part of their charm) and are useful for many types of foods.
ART ON THE MENU
Keep your foods simple and honest. That would NOT mean a plate of gravity-defying, stacked architectural food components. Sometimes a minimalist approach to garnishing is more inviting than overly manipulated foods. Use simple, eye-appealing garnishes that harmonize in taste and appearance with the foods they embellish. An effective garnish can be as simple as a fresh herb sprig or a decorative lemon slice. The chicken pie in the photo on page 59 is adorned with a fall leaf cut from pastry trimmings with a cookie cutter. It is served on a green leaf plate to evoke a sense of fall. In spite of what your mama once told you, it IS okay to play with your food! Practice to develop a few simple cutting skills to turn vegetables and fruits into flowers. This art was perfected in Thailand where great emphasis is placed on food presentation. To make the onion chrysanthemum shown in the centerpiece, remove the papery skin of a large onion. Slightly trim root end to form a flat base. With a large sharp knife, carefully cut down through the onion until about 3/4-inch from the root end-base. (Don’t cut all the way through.) Cut again to form quarter sections. Continue cutting to make 10 to 12 petal sections. Soak
O C T O B E R 2009
onion in iced water four hours to “bloom.� The onion will resemble a real flower. Drain and insert a wooden skewer into the root end; add to arrangement. Embellishing the centerpiece in the photograph are a few whole veggies, fruits and a couple of sculpted vegetable flowers. Then the onion chrysanthemum, Anaheim pepper flower, champagne grapes, artichoke, acorn squash, colorful Easter Egg radishes, cinnamon sticks and fresh herbs were added. To accent your fall holiday table, fill one or more large glass vases with a seasonal food item. Try mini-apples, dried fruits, cranberries, clementines, kumquats, mini-pumpkins or chestnuts. Orange jellybeans, candy corn, colorful dried beans and lentils, rice and rock salt work well too. Different layers will create a burst of color. Place items like autumn leaves and pinecones around the base. Another variation includes a tall pillar candle in each vase, adding enough of one food to cover half of the candle. Unshelled nuts are a great option: whole almonds, walnuts, pecans and pistachios. Decorate the top with tiny pinecones, acorns and cinnamon sticks. Your guests will go absolutely nuts!
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 61
62 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 63
64 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
NEW TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
New Home Communities
PALMETTO BUSINESS 1. Baneberry Place Price Range of New Homes: $127,990 - $189,840 School District: Lexington 1 Shumaker Homes, (803) 787-HOME Eric McCord, (803) 356-1544 www.ShumakerHomes.com Directions: Take I-20 West to Exit 51/Longs Pond Rd. Turn left onto Longs Pond Rd. and continue to community entrance on right. 2. Beasley Creek Price Range of New Homes: $150,990 - $260,480 School District: Richland 2 Shumaker Homes, (803) 787-HOME Deronda Lucas & John Bray, (803) 735-1203 www.ShumakerHomes.com Directions: Take I-77 North to Exit 24/Wilson Blvd. Turn left onto Wilson Blvd, then right onto Turkey Farm Rd. Beasley Creek is ahead on the left. 3. Blythecreek Price Range of New Homes: mid-$130,000s - $200,000 School District: Richland 2
www.columbiametro.com
Midlands Realtors, LLC Steve Applewhite, (803) 309-2023 Kendrick Chiles, (803) 730-9553 www.midlandsrealtors.com Directions: Take I-77 North to Exit 27/Blythewood Rd. Turn right onto Blythewood Rd., then left at light onto Boney Rd. Blythecreek is 1.5 miles ahead on the left. 4. Congaree Downs Price Range of New Homes: $109,990 - $156,490 School District: Lexington 2 Shumaker Homes, (803) 787-HOME Alicia White & Jeannie Michaels, (803) 755-0406 www.ShumakerHomes.com Directions: Take I-26 East to Exit 113 toward SC-302/Columbia Airport/Cayce. Turn right onto Ramblin Rd. and continue 1 mile to community entrance on left. 5. Courtside Commons Price Range of New Homes: $104,900 - $119,900 School District: Lexington 1 US Properties – SC, Ltd. Deborah C. Hall, (803) 234-7810
www.courtsidecommons.com Directions: Take I-26 East to Exit 111/ US Hwy 1 to Lexington. Turn right onto Oak Drive at Barnyard Flea Market. Community is .25 mile on left next to Lexington Tennis Facility. 6. Creek Ridge Price Range of New Homes: $200,000 and up Price Range of Lots: $33,500 - $66,900 School District: Richland 2 Russell & Jeffcoat Realtors Peggy Fowler, (803) 600-5741 www.creekridgeblythewood.com Directions: Take I-77 North to Exit 27/Blythewood. Turn right and go to second light. Turn left onto Wilson Blvd. to immediate right on Langford. At first light, travel 4.5 miles to left on Grover Wilson, 3.5 miles to right on Bear Creek, .5 mile to right on N.E. Miles to right into Ridge Creek. 7. Dawson’s Park Price Range of New Homes: $99,900 - $147,900
indicates a natural gas community
School District: Lexington 1 Midlands Realtors, LLC Donna Reed, (803) 422-4700 www.midlandsrealtors.com Directions: Take Highway 1 away from Lexington. Community is .5 mile from Lexington High School on the right.
Donna Stevens, (803) 407-3708 www.ShumakerHomes.com Directions: Take I-26 West to Exit 101A/Ballentine/White Rock/US 176. Merge onto Dutch Fork Rd., then left on Johnson Marina Rd. and left on Richard Franklin Rd. to community entrance on right.
8. Eagle Pointe Price Range of New Homes: $130,000 - $170,000 School District: Lexington 5 Great Southern Homes Bill Guess, (803) 360-0941 www.gshomes.gs Directions: Take I-26 West to Exit 91 and turn left toward Chapin. Go approximately 1 mile and turn left onto Lexington Ave. Go approximately 2.5 miles and turn right onto Stucks Point Drive. Eagle Pointe will be .25 mile on the left.
10. Eagles Rest at Lake Murray Garden Homes Price Range of New Homes: $214,990 - $236,990 School District: Lexington 5 Shumaker Homes, (803) 787-HOME Vickie Proper, (803) 732-5950 www.ShumakerHomes.com Directions: Take I-26 West to Exit 101A/Ballentine/White Rock/US 176. Merge onto Dutch Fork Rd., then left on Johnson Marina Rd. and left on Richard Franklin Rd. to community entrance on right.
9. Eagles Rest at Lake Murray Price Range of New Homes: $204,990 - $265,480 School District: Lexington 5 Shumaker Homes, (803) 787-HOME
11. Eve’s Garden Price Range of New Homes: $250,000 - $364,000 School District: Kershaw County Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS ® Novella Taylor, (803) 730-3738
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 65
www.NovellaTaylor.com Directions: Take I-20 East to Exit 98. Turn left toward Camden, then right at Black River Rd. 12. GreenHill Parish Price Range of New Homes: $325,000 - $600,000 Price Range of Lots: $35,000 - $80,000 School District: Richland 2 Manning Kirk & Associates Russell & Jeffcoat Realtors Barbara Puffenbarger, (803) 699-0015 www.greenhillparish.com Directions: Take I-20 East to Exit 82/Spears Creek Church Rd. Turn left onto Spears Creek Church Rd., and continue 2 miles to GreenHill Parish entrance on right. 13. Haigs Creek Price Range of New Homes:
66 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
$270,000 - $360,000 Price Range of Lots: $40,000 - $48,000 School District: Kershaw County Russell & Jeffcoat Realtors, Inc. Shelba Wooten Mattox, (803) 600-0527 www.haigscreek.com Directions: Take I-20 East to Exit 87, left onto White Pond Rd., right onto Whiting Way (frontage road) and left into Haigs Creek. Follow the new homes signs to new construction. 14. Indigo Place Price Range of New Homes: $109,900 School District: Lexington 2 Midlands Realtors, LLC Bridget Biviano, (803) 479-8349 www.midlandsrealtors.com Directions: Take I-77 South to Gaston Exit. Go straight across Charleston Highway (Hwy 321) onto Fish
Hatchery Rd. Indigo Place is .5 mile ahead on right. 15. Indigo Springs Price Range of New Homes: $150,000 - $230,000 School District: Richland 2 Great Southern Homes Debi Burke, (803) 546-9000 www.gshomes.gs Directions: Take I-20 East to Exit 80 and turn left onto Clemson Rd. Go approximately four miles and turn right at Summit Parkway. Turn right onto Timber Crest. At stop sign, turn left and then right onto Indigo Springs Drive. 16. Jacob’s Creek Price Range of New Homes: $120,000 - $250,000 School District: Richland 2 Great Southern Homes
Robert Perry, (803) 360-9165 www.gshomes.gs Directions: Take I-20 East to Exit 82 and turn left onto Spears Creek Church Rd. Jacob’s Creek is approximately 3 miles ahead on the right. 17. Jasmine Place Price Range of New Homes: $114,000 - $208,300 School District: Richland 1 Shumaker Homes, (803) 787-HOME Christine Landers & Sharon Thomas, (803) 754-0674 www.ShumakerHomes.com Directions: Take I-77 North to Exit 19/ Farrow Rd. Turn left on Farrow Rd. then left on Hardscrabble Rd. Community entrance is ahead on right. 18. Kelsney Ridge Price Range of New Homes:
$160,000s - $300,000 School District: Kershaw County ERA Wilder Realty Ken Queen, (803) 600-3361 Directions: Take Two Notch/Hwy 1 north to just over Kershaw County line. Turn right on Steven Campbell Rd. Go approximately 1 mile to Kelsney Ridge on left. 19. Lake Carolina Price Range of New Homes: $140,000s to $2,000,000+ School District: Richland 2 Lake Carolina Properties, (803) 736-5253 www.LakeCarolina.com Directions: Take I-77 North to Exit 22/Killian Rd. and turn right. Killian Rd. will become Clemson Rd. At the third light, turn left onto Hardscrabble Rd. Continue for 2.5 miles. Turn right into Lake Carolina.
O C T O B E R 2009
$299,000 - $700,000+ School District: Lexington/Richland 5 ERA Wilder Realty Todd Beckstrom, (803) 719-2090 www.paradisecovelakemurray.com Directions: Take I-26 West to Exit 91/Chapin. Turn left over interstate and follow Columbia Ave. through Chapin. Go straight at stoplight, Amicks Ferry Rd. and veer to right after one mile. Continue on Amicks Ferry Rd. for approximately 2.1 miles and turn right on Crystal Lake Rd. Follow to end on left. 25. Peach Grove Villas Price Range of New Homes: $199,000 - $275,000 School District: Richland 2 Epcon Columbia Daniel Elmaleh, (803) 223-9545 www.peachgrovevillas.com Directions: Take I-20 West to Exit 80. Turn left onto Clemson Rd. Go 1.5 miles (towards the Village at Sandhill) and turn right onto Earth Rd. Peach Grove Villas is located on the right just before the entrance to Woodcreek Farms. 26. Rabons Farm Price Range of New Homes: $84,900 - $155,000 School District: Richland 2 Great Southern Homes Jody Styron, (803) 360-1558 www.gshomes.gs Directions: Take Bull St./SC-277 North and go approximately 9 miles. Take the Farrow Rd. exit and turn left. Turn right at Rabon Rd., slight left to stay on Rabon Rd. Turn left at Flora Dr. Turn Right at Rabons Springs Rd.
Please proceed to the Information Center for your personal tour of Lake Carolina. 20. Lake Frances Price Range of New Homes: $150,000 - $220,000 School District: Lexington 1 Great Southern Homes Beth Gardner, (803) 360-3599 www.gshomes.gs Directions: Take Blossom St. Bridge and continue to follow SC-215/US176/US-21/US-321. Take slight right at Airport Blvd/ SC-302. Go approximately 5.5 miles and turn right onto Ramblin Rd. Lake Frances is on the left. 21. The Landings at Night Harbor Price Range of New Homes: $215,000 - $235,000
www.columbiametro.com
Price Range of Lots: $39,000 School District: Lexington 5 ERA Wilder Realty Debbie Erdman, (803) 917-3521 www.landingsatnightharbor.com Directions: Take I-26 West to Exit 91/Columbia Ave., toward Chapin for 2.1 miles. Continue through the light and you will be on Amick’s Ferry Rd., continuing 5.4 miles. Turn left on Green Meadow Drive then turn left into Night Harbor and take an immediate right to the sales center. 22. Longtown Place Price Range of New Homes: $195,090 - $251,580 School District: Richland 2 Shumaker Homes, (803) 787-HOME Amanda Little, (803) 732-1515 www.ShumakerHomes.com Directions: Take I-77 North to Exit 22/Killian Rd. Turn right onto Killian
Rd. and take to end. Turn left onto Longtown Rd. and continue to community entrance on the left. 23. Orchard Pointe Price Range of New Homes: $200,000 - $375,000 School District: Lexington 1 Sycamore Development, LLC, (803) 788-8300 Coldwell Banker United, REALTORS ® Jean Reed, (803) 358-1158 www.orchardpointe.info, www.cbunited.com Directions: Take I-20 to Highway 378 West toward Lexington/Lake Murray Dam. Turn left onto Mineral Springs Rd. Orchard Pointe is 1.2 miles ahead on the right. 24. Paradise Cove on Lake Murray Price Range of New Homes:
27. Saddlebrook Price Range of New Homes: $140,000s - $220,000s School District: Kershaw County ERA Wilder Realty Charlie Thomas, (803) 413-9607 Directions: Take Two Notch Rd./ Hwy 1 North. Go through Elgin, approximately 3 miles. Saddlebrook will be on the left. 28. Saluda River Club Price Range of New Homes: $190,000 - $1,000,000+ School District: Lexington 1 Saluda River Club Realty, LLC Bridget Downing, Kathy Seymour & Ted Johnson, (803) 358-3969 www.saludariverclub.com Directions: Take I-20 West to Exit 61/Hwy 378. Turn right and take immediate right onto Corley Mill Rd. The entrance to Saluda River Club is located 1.5 miles down Corley Mill Rd. on the right.
$203,990 - $265,980 School District: Lexington/Richland 5 Shumaker Homes, (803) 787-HOME Darlene Reese, (803) 732-1515 www.ShumakerHomes.com Directions: Take I-26 West to Exit 101A/Ballentine/White Rock. Turn right onto Koon Rd. to community entrance on left. 30. Summer Lake Price Range of New Homes: $285,000 - $800,000 School District: Lexington 1 Southern Visions Realty, Inc. Anne Wilkins Brooks, (803) 359-9571 www.svrealty.com Directions: Take I-20 to Hwy 378. Take Hwy 378 West through Lexington approximately 4 miles. Summer Lake is on the right just past the Piggly Wiggly. 31. Wellesley Price Range of New Homes: $149,990 - $207,300 School District: Lexington 1 Shumaker Homes, (803) 787-HOME Matt Shealy & Brantley Jones, (803) 957-3290 www.ShumakerHomes.com Directions: Take I-20 West to Exit 61/US 378 toward Lexington. Merge right on US 378 and turn left at first light onto Ginny Ln. Continue to community ahead on right. 32. Westcott Ridge Price Range of New Homes: Patio Homes $180,000 - $250,000; Traditional $300,000 - $500,000 School District: Lexington/Richland 5 Russell & Jeffcoat Realtors Rhonda Jacobs Walsh, (803) 781-6552 www.westcottridge.com Directions: Take I-26 West to Exit 97/Peak. Veer Right on Hwy 176. Westcott Ridge is on the left, across from Waterfall subdivision. 33. Willow Tree Price Range of New Homes: $114,000 - $208,300 School District: Richland 1 Shumaker Homes, (803) 787-HOME Angelia Jefferson, (803) 783-7183 www.ShumakerHomes.com Directions: Take I-77 North to Exit 9/Garners Ferry Rd./US 378. Turn right on Garners Ferry Rd., left on Trotter Rd., left on Caughman Rd. and right onto Ulmer Rd. Continue to community entrance ahead on left.
This listing is provided by the Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia.
29. Stonemont Price Range of New Homes:
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 67
GOOD EATS KEY $ - $10 or less $$ - $11 to $20 $$$ - $21 and up
Restaurant Guide DOWNTOWN & THE VISTA AMERICAN Bernie’s $ B,L,D 1311 Bluff Rd., 256-2888
Hampton Street Vineyard $$$ L,D 1201 Hampton St., 252-0850 Hennessy’s $$ L,D 1649 Main St., 799-8280
FIVE POINTS & DEVINE STREET AMERICAN Goatfeather’s $-$$ D, SBR 2017 Devine St., 256-3325
Biscuit House $ B 1019 Bluff Rd., 256-0958
Motor Supply Co. Bistro $$ L,D 920 Gervais St., 256-6687
Harper’s Restaurant $-$$ L,D 700 Harden St., 252-2222
Blue Tapas Bar & Cocktail Lounge $ 721 A Lady St., 251-4447 Voted Best Cocktail
P.O.S.H. $$ B,L,D 1400 Main St. (at the Sheraton), 988-1400
Mr. Friendly’s $$-$$$ L,D 2001-A Greene St., 254-7828
Finlay’s Restaurant $$ B,L,D 1200 Hampton St. (in the Columbia Marriott), 771-7000
Ristorante Divino $$$ D Voted Best Fine Dining Restaurant 803 Gervais St., 799-4550
Flying Saucer $ L,D 931 Senate St., 933-999 Gervais & Vine $$ D Voted Best Appetizer Voted Best Wine Menu 620-A Gervais St., 799-VINE Hunter-Gatherer Brewery $$ L,D 900 Main St., 748-0540 Liberty Taproom & Grill $$ L,D 828 Gervais St., 461-4677 Mac’s on Main $ L,D 1710 Main St., 929-0037 Ruth’s Chris Steak House $$$ L,D Voted Best Steak 924-A Senate St. (at the Hilton), 212-6666 ASIAN M. Café $$ L,D 1417 Sumter St., 779-5789 Miyo’s Fine Shanghai & Szechuan Cuisine $$ L,D Voted Best Chinese Restaurant 922 S. Main St., 779-MIYO COFFEE/DESSERT Immaculate Consumption $ B,L 933 Main St., 799-9053 Nonnah’s $ L,D Voted Best Dessert 930 Gervais St., 779-9599 DELI Cool Beans! Coffee Co. $ B,L,D 1217 College St., 779-4277 No Name Deli $ L 2042 Marion St., 242-0480 FINE DINING Columbo’s $$ B,L,D, SBR 2100 Bush River Rd. (in the Radisson), 744-2200
68 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
ITALIAN Mellow Mushroom $ L,D 1009 Gervais St., 933-9201 Villa Tronco $$ L,D 1213 Blanding St., 256-7677 NATURAL/HEALTH Garden Bistro $ B,L 923 Gervais St., 933-9085 Nice-N-Natural $ L 1217 College St., 799-3471 SEAFOOD Blue Marlin $-$$ L,D Voted Best Seafood Restuarant 1200 Lincoln St., 799-3838 The Oyster Bar $-$$ D 1123 Park St., 799-4484 SOUTHERN 300 Senate at the Canal $-$$ L 300 Senate St., 748-8909 Lizard’s Thicket $ B,L,D Voted Best Bang for the Buck Voted Best Family Restaurant Voted Best Grits 818 Elmwood Ave., 779-6407 STEAK Longhorn Steakhouse $-$$ L,D 902-A Gervais St., 254-5100 SUSHI Camon Japanese Restaurant $$$ D 1332 Assembly St., 254-5400 SakiTumi $$ L,D 807 Gervais St., 931-0700 WINGS Carolina Wings $ L,D 600 Gervais St., 256-8844 Wild Wing Cafe $ L,D 729 Lady St., 252-9464
Salty Nut $ L,D 2000-A Greene St., 256-4611 Yesterday’s $$ L,D 2030 Devine St., 799-0196 ASIAN Baan Sawan $$$ D 2135 Devine St., 252-8992 Egg Roll Chen $ L,D 715 Crowson Rd., 787-6820 DELI Adriana’s $ B,L,D 721 Saluda Ave., 799-7595 Andy’s Deli $ L,D 2005 Greene St., 799-2639 DiPrato’s $ L,D, SBR Voted Best Sunday Brunch 342 Pickens St., 779-0606 The Gourmet Shop $ B,L 724 Saluda Ave., 799-3705 Groucho’s Deli $ L,D Voted Best Sandwich 611 Harden St., 799-5708 FINE DINING Dianne’s on Devine $$$ D Voted Best Wait Staff 2400 Devine St., 254-3535 GERMAN Julia’s German Stammtisch $$ L,D 4341 Ft. Jackson Blvd., 738-0630 GREEK Devine Foods $ L,D 2702 Devine St., 252-0356 INDIAN India Pavilion $ L,D 2011 Devine St., 252-4355 IRISH Delaney’s $ L,D 741 Saluda Ave., 779-2345 ITALIAN Garibaldi’s $$$ D Voted Best Restaurant in Columbia 2013 Greene St., 771-8888 MEXICAN
B - Breakfast L - Lunch D - Dinner SBR - Sunday Brunch
Columbia Metropolitan’s 2009 Best of Columbia contest winners are in red.
El Burrito $ L,D 934 Harden St., 765-2188 Eric’s San Jose $ L,D Voted Best Mexican Restaurant 6118 Garners Ferry Rd., 783-6650 NATURAL/HEALTH Mediterranean Tea Room $ L,D 2601 Devine St., 799-3118 PIZZA LaBrasca $ L,D 4365 Jackson Blvd., 782-1098 Village Idiot $ L,D 2009 Devine St., 252-8646 Za’s Brick Oven Pizza $ L,D Voted Best Pizza 2930 Devine St., 771-7334 SOUTHERN Lizard’s Thicket $ B,L,D Voted Best Bang for the Buck Voted Best Family Restaurant Voted Best Grits 7938 Garners Ferry Rd., 647-0095
Zorba’s $ L,D Voted Best Greek Restaurant 2628 Decker Blvd., 736-5200 ITALIAN Travinia Italian Kitchen $$ L,D 101 Sparkleberry Crossing Rd., 419-9313 MEXICAN Hola Mexico $ L,D 10014 C Two Notch Rd., 865-7758 San Jose $ L,D • 801 Sparkleberry Ln., 419-8861 • 420 McNulty St. #C, 735-9787 • 808 Highway 1S, 438-2133 SEAFOOD Blue Fin $$ L,D,SBR 461-4 Town Center Place, 865-7346 SOUTHERN Lizard’s Thicket $ B,L,D Voted Best Bang for the Buck Voted Best Family Restaurant Voted Best Grits • 7620 Two Notch Rd., 788-3088 • 10170 Two Notch Rd., 419-5662
SUSHI Saky $-$$ D 4963 Jackson Blvd., 787-5307
Mint Julep $-$$ D 120 Sparkleberry Crossing Dr., 419-7200
Sushi Yoshi $ D 2019 Devine St., 931-0555
STEAK Longhorn Steakhouse $-$$ L,D 2760 Decker Blvd., 736-7464
NORTHEAST AMERICAN 5 Guys Famous Burgers & Fries $ L,D Voted Best French Fries 460-2 Town Center Place, 788-6200 Solstice Kitchen & Wine Bar $$$ D Voted Best Restaurant in Northeast 841-4 Sparkleberry Ln., 788-6966 Village Bistro $$ L,D,SBR 498-1 Town Center Place, 227-2710 DELI Groucho’s Deli $ L,D Voted Best Sandwich • 111 Sparkleberry Ln., 419-6767 • 730 University Village Dr., 754-4509 Tiffany’s Bakery & Eatery $ B,L Voted Best Bakery 8502 E Two Notch Rd., 736-CAKE FINE DINING Arizona’s $$$ L,D 150 Forum Dr., 865-1001 GREEK
Steak Carolina $-$$ L (Sat only), D 5 Lake Carolina Way, Ste 170, 661-6424 WINGS Carolina Wings $ L,D 2000-18 Clemson Rd., 419-0022 D’s Restaurant $ L,D Voted Best Wings 111 Sparkleberry Crossing, 462-1895 Wild Wing Cafe $ L,D 480-2 Town Center Place, 865-3365
IRMO AMERICAN Sticky Fingers $-$$ L,D 380 Columbiana Dr., 781-7427 ASIAN Miyo’s at Columbiana Place $$ L,D Voted Best Chinese Restaurant 1220 E-2 Bower Pkwy., 781-7788 Miyabi Kyoto $$ L (Sun only),D Columbiana Centre, Harbison Blvd., 407-0574 Thai Lotus Restaurant $ L,D
O C T O B E R 2009
Voted Best Thai Restaurant 612 St. Andrews Rd., 561-0006
Carolina Wings $ L,D 7587 St. Andrews Rd., 781-0084
DELI Groucho’s Deli $ L,D Voted Best Sandwich • 800 Lake Murray Blvd., 749-4515 • 2009 Broad River Rd., 750-3188
D’s Restaurant $ L,D Voted Best Wings 285 Columbiana Dr., 227-0238
FONDUE The Melting Pot $$$ D Voted Best Romantic Dinner 1410 Colonial Life Blvd., 731-8500 GREEK Zorba’s $ L, D Voted Best Greek Restaurant 6169 St. Andrews Rd, 772-4617 ITALIAN Alodia’s Cucina Italian $-$$ L,D 2736 N. Lake Dr., 781-9814 INDIAN Delhi Palace $ L,D 1029 Briargate Cir., 750-0866 MEDITERRANEAN Al-Amir $$ L,D Voted Best Restaurant in Irmo 7001 St. Andrews Rd., 732-0522 MEXICAN El Chico Restaurant $$$ L,D 1728 Bush River Rd., 772-0770 Little Mexico $ L,D 6164 St. Andrews Rd., 798-6045 San Jose $ L,D • 1000 Marina Rd., 749-9484 • 498 Piney Grove Rd., 750-3611 NATURAL/HEALTH Sun Ming Chinese Restaurant $ L,D 7509 St. Andrews Rd., 732-4488 PIZZA Custom Pizza Company $$ L,D 6801-3 St. Andrews Rd., 781-6004 Bonefish Grill $$-$$$ D 1260 Bower Pkwy., 407-1599 Catch 22 $$ L,D 1085 D Lake Murray Blvd., 781-9916 SOUTHERN Lizard’s Thicket $ B,L,D Voted Best Bang for the Buck Voted Best Family Restaurant Voted Best Grits • 7569 St. Andrews Road, 732-1225 • 1824 Broad River Rd., 798-6427 STEAK Longhorn Steakhouse $-$$ L,D 171 Harbison Blvd., 732-2482
Wild Wing Cafe $ L,D 1150 Bower Parkway, 749-9464 Wings & Ale $ L,D 125-C Outlet Pointe Blvd., 750-1700
LEXINGTON BARBECUE Hudson’s Smokehouse $ L,D Voted Best Barbecue Voted Best Ribs 4952 Sunset Blvd., 356-1070 DELI Cafe 403 $ L 403 N. Lake Dr., 808-2992 Groucho’s Deli $ L,D Voted Best Sandwich 117 1/2 East Main St., 356-8800 FINE DINING Lexington Arms $$ D 314A West Main St., 359-2700 ITALIAN Travinia Italian Kitchen $$ L,D Voted Best Restaurant in Lexington 5074 Sunset Blvd., 957-2422 MEXICAN Eric’s San Jose $ L,D Voted Best Mexican Restaurant 604 Columbia Ave. 957-9443 San Jose $ L,D 4510 Augusta Rd., 957-5171 SOUTHERN Lizard’s Thicket $ B,L,D Voted Best Bang for the Buck Voted Best Family Restaurant Voted Best Grits 621 West Main St., 951-3555 WINGS Buffalo’s Café $ L,D 5464 Sunset Blvd., 808-6001 Carolina Wings $ L,D 105 North Pointe Dr., 356-6244
CAYCE & WEST COLUMBIA AMERICAN New Orleans Riverfront $$ L,D Voted Best Outdoor Dining 121 Alexander Rd., 794-5112
SUSHI Inakaya $-$$ L,D Voted Best Sushi Restaurant 655-C St. Andrews Rd., 731-2538
COFFEE/DESSERT Café Strudel $ B,L 118 State St., 794-6634
WINGS
DELI
www.columbiametro.com
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 69
House Coffee $ B,L,D 116 State St., 791-5663 FINE DINING Al’s Upstairs $$$ D Voted Best Italian Restaurant 300 Meeting St., 794-7404 Terra $$ D 100 State St., 791-3443 GREEK Grecian Gardens $$ L,D 2312 Sunset Blvd., 794-7552 Nick’s $$ L,D 1082 Sunset Blvd., 794-9240 SOUTHERN Lizard’s Thicket $ B,L,D Voted Best Bang for the Buck Voted Best Family Restaurant Voted Best Grits • 2240 Airport Blvd., 796-7820 • 501 Knox Abbott Dr., 791-0314 • 2234 Sunset Blvd., 794-0923 WINGS Carolina Wings $ L,D 2347-C Augusta Rd., 791-0260 D’s Wings $ L,D 920 Axtell Dr., 791-4486
FOREST ACRES AMERICAN Tombo Grille $$ D 4517 Forest Dr., 782-9665 ASIAN Miyo’s on Forest $$ L,D Voted Best Chinese Restaurant 3250 Forest Dr., Suite B, 743-9996 Sakura $-$$ L,D 20 Forest Lake Shopping Center, 738-9330 Sato $$ D 1999 Beltline Blvd., 782-1064 DELI Groucho’s Deli $ L,D Voted Best Sandwich 4717 Forest Dr., 790-0801 McAlister’s Deli $ L,D 4710-A Forest Dr., 790-5995 ITALIAN Italian Pie $$ L,D 3246 Forest Dr., 454-1743 Pasta Fresca $$ D 3405 Forest Dr., 787-1838 Rosso $$ D 4840 Forest Dr., 787-3949 MEXICAN Casa Linda $ L,D 2009 Beltline Blvd., 738-0420
Zoe’s $ L,D Voted Best New Restaurant 4855 Forest Dr., 782-1212 PIZZA Village Idiot $ L, D 4515 Forest Dr, 787-5005 SEAFOOD Bonefish Grill $$-$$$ D 4708 Forest Dr., 787-6200 SOUTHERN Lizard’s Thicket $ B,L,D Voted Best Bang for the Buck Voted Best Family Restaurant Voted Best Grits • 402 Beltline Blvd., 738-0006 • 3147 Forest Dr., 787-8781 WINGS D’s Restaurant $ L,D Voted Best Wings 2005 Beltline Blvd., 787-2595
ROSEWOOD AMERICAN Rockaway Athletic Club $ L, D Voted Best Hamburger 2719 Rosewood Dr., 256-1075 DELI The Deli at Rosewood Market $-$$ L,D,SBR 2803 Rosewood Dr., 256-6410 ITALIAN Moe’s Grapevine $$ L,D 4478 Rosewood Dr., 776-8463 PIZZA Dano’s $ L,D 2800 Rosewood Dr., 254-3266 Pizza Man $ L,D 341 S Woodrow St., 252-6931
REMBERT FINE DINING Boykins at the Mill Pond $$$ D 84 Boykin Mill Rd., (803) 425-8825 Lilfreds of Rembert $$$ D 8425 Camden Hwy., (803) 432-7063
CHAPIN FINE DINING Mark’s $$-$$$ L,D,SBR 2371 Dutch Fork Rd., 781-2807 SEAFOOD Rusty Anchor $$-$$$ D Voted Best Lakeside Restaurant 1925 Johnson Marina Rd., 749-1555 Visit www.columbiametro.com for an extended listing.
San Jose $ L,D 4722 Forest Dr., 462-7184 NATURAL/HEALTH
70 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
O C T O B E R 2009
www.columbiametro.com
Daniel Hodges and Brantley Counts
W W W. B A R B E R P H O T O . C O M
Blake Smith and Charles Williams
Michelle Marie Moshinskie and Jeremy Dennis Gile
W W W. B A R B E R P H O T O . C O M
W W W. B A R B E R P H O T O . C O M
Ashley Joy Smith and Michael David Hunter
GENE HO PHOTOGRAPHY
JUST MARRIED
Benjamin Smith and Anna Derrick
Eric Peake and Nikki Fanning
C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N 71
PICTURE THIS Carolina Wildlife Care’s Black Tie & Tails Gala
Joey Dedman, Ann Dedman
Brooks Jones, Mary Kenyan Jones, Joanna Weitzel
Bunni Crawford, Joanna Weitzel, Jimmy Knight
Deloris Mungo, Susan Aude
Ben Wright, Juanita Wright
George Cauthen, Mary Denis Cauthen, Stewart Mungo
Glynnis Abraham, Tad Abraham
Lorrie Rivers
Sandra Sills, Bill Sills
Daniel Seamans, Melissa Munn
Steve Weitzel, Joanna Weitzel, Leslie Davis, Robert Clyburn
Michelle Smith, Corky Klett
Wally Powell, Carol George
Unforgettable’s Gold Carpet Event
Laurie Barnwell, Melanie Baker, Stephanie Hrisko, Stacey Gregory
Ella Gregory, Johnny Osteen
Anna Ruff, Becky Airheart, Shayna Katzman
Pat Hrisko, Bob Manown, Pat Manown
72 C O L U M B I A M E T R O P O L I T A N
Bill Hrisko
Anna Ruff, Mallori McAllister, Corey Rollinson
O C T O B E R 2009