2014
College Guide • Sex • Safety • Housing • Shopping • Food
• Music & Nightlife • Drugs & Alcohol • Sports • Money
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contents 4 Introduction to Columbia 6 City Map & Neighborhoods 8 You’re Here ... Now What? 10 Sex 11 Safety 12 Housing 14 Shopping 22 Food 26 Music & Nightlife 33 15 Twitter Feeds Every Gamecock
2014
Should Follow
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34 Sports 36 Alcohol & Drugs 38 Money
College Guide Published by Resorts Media LLC 1534 Main St., Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 765.0707 (803) 765.0727 fax free-times.com PUBLISHER: Charlie Nutt, charlien@free-times.com, x 129
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Columbia — The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
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elcome to Columbia, South Carolina, home to the University of South Carolina as well as numerous smaller schools — Midlands Tech, Benedict College, Columbia College, Allen University, Columbia International and more. Let’s talk about what you’re getting into here. Columbia is not: • an ivy-draped collegiate enclave dotted with quaint academic pubs and cathedral-like libraries Columbia is: • a thriving capital city packed with powerful and interesting people • an up-and-coming cultural hub full of artists, museums and events • a party town • a Gamecock town • a major Southern metro area with a crime rate to match And here you are, right in the middle of it — about to embark on perhaps the biggest challenge of your life so far: college. You might be living away from your parents for the first time and setting your own hours, while trying to make friends, have fun and have time left over to go to class and study. You’ll get to learn the city’s foibles soon enough. Like the trains that sometimes shudder to a halt while blocking major roads. Or the streets that change names four or five times as they traverse the city. Or the occasional soulcrushing humidity.
But you’ll also learn why, more and more, people who graduate from Columbia’s high schools and universities are deciding to stick around. It’s a good city, and it’s getting better. Whether it’s the growing tech sector or the thriving arts community, Columbia is becoming somewhere people want to live after graduation. We’ve put together this guide to help you navigate the city and some of the challenges of college. How do you stay safe without denying yourself the pleasures of Five Points and Vista nightlife? How do you decide where to live, eat and play? We’ve also given you some general pointers on making it through college — financial tips, dealing with drugs and alcohol and more. Our bias is clear: We love Columbia, despite its flaws, and we want you to love it, too. That’s why we encourage you to step beyond the boundaries of campus or your student housing complex. Pick up a copy of Free Times each week and see what’s going on in the world around you. Go hear some live music. Visit an ethnic restaurant. Check out the river. So here it is: the admittedly subjective (but very well researched) Free Times 2014 College Guide. — Eva Moore Several current and former Free Times writers contributed to this guide. Let us know what you think: Email editor@free-times.com.
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City Map & Neighborhoods
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nlike many other cities, Columbia isn’t built around one core downtown area. Instead, the city has three primary downtown districts: Five Points, Downtown/ Main Street and the Vista. Each area has its own distinct feel. Five Points has a collegevillage vibe, with hip record stores, vintage clothes spots and lots of bars. Downtown you’ll find the State House, City Hall and the county courthouse — but also an art museum, a Brazilian steakhouse and a great coffee shop. In the Vista, you’ll find restaurants, galleries and retail spots, including an Urban Outfitters. Beyond these three districts are numerous regions of the greater Columbia area, among them Lake Murray, Harbison/ Irmo and the Northeast. Each area has its own distinct characteristics. But don’t be too quick to stereotype: Five Points isn’t just for college students, and you’ll sometimes find hidden culinary gems in the suburbs. So, take a look around, and keep your mind open.
Five Points / Devine Street / Shandon There’s a bustling energy to the Five Points area, fueled by a steady stream of visitors from the University of South Carolina and surrounding neighbor-
hoods. In the daytime, you’ll find college hipsters, strolling shoppers and hungry businesspeople occupying the area’s eclectic mix of coffee shops, restaurants and independent retailers. At night, the area’s bars and clubs get busy, as Five Points is the place to party in Columbia, as least for younger people. Five Points is also close to the venerable old neighborhood of Shandon, whose residents help support some higher-end restaurants and retail boutiques along Devine Street.
The Vista If Five Points is Columbia’s primary district for college students, then the Vista offers the same for post-college professionals. This converted warehouse district is largely known for its many dining options and art galleries, but it’s also home to an Urban Outfitters; the city’s leading progressive theater company (Trustus); a grocery store converted from a former Confederate printing plant (Publix); and some of the city’s key clubs and bars. (Coming soon: Old Chicago Pizza.) Just beyond the Vista’s core are several of the city’s primary attractions: the Colonial Life Arena, S.C. State Museum and EdVenture Children’s Museum. The Vista also has several residential options.
Downtown Like a lot of urban cores, Columbia’s downtown is in the midst of a major revival. The Columbia Museum of Art has a steady stream of excellent exhibitions and events; several new restaurants have opened; Drip on Main is feeding the area’s caffeine addiction; the Soda City Market has livened up the street on Saturday; Mast General Store is drawing new foot traffic; the First Thursday series is building an arts-district sensibility in the area; and the Nickelodeon Theatre is the finest independent cinema around. Plus, The Hub at Columbia just opened, flooding the area with more than 800 college students.
USC / South Main The University of South Carolina campus dominates the landscape south of the State House, so many of the nearby streets are peppered with establishments looking to nab some of the students’ so-called “disposable” income. Whether it’s coffee, frozen yogurt, bagels, sandwiches, locally brewed beers or the massive Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center, students in this area have access to quite a lot without need of a car. The Hunter-Gatherer Brewery and Ale House is not to be missed. Blythewood
Chapin
Sandhill Clemson Road
Ballentine
Northeast
Two Notch Road
Irmo
Dentsville
Lake Murray
Main Street
Lexington
Forest Acres Shandon The Vista Fort Jackson Five Points Vista West USC Rosewood West Columbia Cayce
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NEIGHBORHOODS | FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE
Fort Jackson More than half of the Army’s soldiers do their basic training at Fort Jackson, and about 75,000 soldiers are trained there in total each year; the base encompasses 52,301 acres, 1,100 buildings and employs about 3,500 activeduty soldiers and an equal number of civilians. Opened in 1917, Fort Jackson is also home to the Army’s Drill Sergeant School, the Armed Forces Army Chaplaincy Center and School and the National Center for Credibility Assessment — so, you know, don’t try to lie to them.
Northeast / Clemson Road / Blythewood The Northeast part of town is a sprawling region of good schools, reasonably priced homes and national retailers and restaurants extending out to the Town of Blythewood, one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the state. Home to the 1,419-acre Sesquicentennial State Park, the popular planned community Lake Carolina and the expansive Village at Sandhill retail complex, the Northeast also boasts some major employers, including Providence Northeast. Also sports such unique local spots as Solstice Kitchen and Wine Bar and its own seasonal farmers market.
St. Andrews / Broad and Bush River Roads Don’t let the gritty sprawl fool you: If you look closely, there are hidden gems in this area — especially if you like ethnic foods. Among the treats: Elie’s Authentic Lebanese Cuisine, Bombay Grill, Delhi Palace, Inakaya Japanese Restaurant and the Indian Grocery. It’s not all food, either: Manifest Discs, Sims Music, Heroes & Dragons Comics and the Ole Towne Antique Mall also call this area home.
State Street / West Columbia / Vista West Just across the Gervais Street bridge sits an eclectic mix of nightspots, galleries, gift shops and restaurants — among them Café Strudel on State Street and, a little further out, the
2014 | free-times.com
incredible Spice Junction in the Westside Plaza Shopping Center on Highway 1. Of particular note to music fans: the long-running New Brookland Tavern; Bill’s Music Shop, the home of local bluegrass; and Conundrum Music Hall, which caters to experimental tastes. Neighborhoods along the Avenues and Sunset Boulevard are popular with city-minded people who don’t want to pay downtown prices.
Irmo / Harbison / Dutch Fork Big-name retailers like Lowe’s, Target and Best Buy — and that’s not even mentioning Columbiana Centre — make this area a necessary stop for many Columbians from all areas of town. Along with extensive shopping options, good neighborhoods keep drawing people to the area. There are also a couple of amenities you might not expect in a generally suburban area: Saluda Shoals Park and Harbison State Forest, which offers more than 16 miles of roads and trails weaving through a pine and hardwood forest.
Lexington Which county consistently has the lowest unemployment rate in South Carolina? That would be Lexington. In many ways, Lexington County is the foil to Richland County: It’s more conservative both culturally and politically, it’s historically anti-tax, and many of its residents staunchly defend their distinctly non-Columbia identity. City types might balk at the relative scarcity of cultural amenities in Lexington, but the basics are here — good schools, reasonably priced housing and a strong economy. Plus, it has some excellent sports facilities, and the Columbia Blowfish college summer-league baseball team just announced they’re moving there.
Lake Murray Ask anyone who lives on Lake Murray, and they’ll tell you it’s more than just a lake — it’s a haven away from the city. With more than 500 miles of shoreline, most of it privately owned,
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Lake Murray is South Carolina’s largest manmade lake and offers seasonal recreation and a huge July 4 fireworks display, as well as hosting major fishing tournaments. Public access is limited to the few parks and marinas scattered around the lake, so your best bet is to buy a boat or befriend someone who has one.
Forest Acres Housing options abound in the tree-filled neighborhoods of this city within a city, which is close to downtown and to Fort Jackson. Once known for such staples as the excellent breakfast spot The Original Pancake House and the highend grocery next door, The Fresh Market, Forest Acres is now home to a Trader Joe’s, too. (There’s also a nearby and wildly popular Whole Foods at Cross Hill Market.) And while you might not think of Forest Acres for its lunch options, try pulling into the Five Guys parking lot midday on a weekday. Mmm … Five Guys.
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Rosewood Anchored by Publix and Rosewood Elementary, this neighborhood is a good place for people who want to live downtown but don’t want to pay Shandon-sized prices. The area also has a slowly burgeoning restaurant and entertainment scene, including the small but popular Cock N’ Bull Pub, the Kraken Gastropub, the Rosewood Crawfish Festival and an annual Mardi Gras parade. Other draws: Owens Field, Williams-Brice Stadium and City Roots sustainable farm.
Olympia Despite the train tracks and football traffic, Olympia’s cachet is on the rise. With Olympia Mills, Granby Mills and Aspyre providing residential anchors and a beautifully renovated 701 Whaley hosting events, a farmers market and contemporary art, there’s a lot going on in this part of town. Add in riverfront development and Carolina Stadium for Gamecock baseball, and you’ve practically got a full-scale renaissance.
Columbia ‘the Vista’ 1213 Lincoln Street 803.212.4949
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You’re Here ... Now What? Automobile Registration Let’s assume, Capital City newbies, that you’re fortunate enough to have landed in Columbia with a vehicle. The next thing you need to do is register it with the state DMV. You have 45 days to get that done — and before you can do it, you have to pay property tax to your county. (Pro tip: The auditor’s office tells you how much to pay; the treasurer’s office is where you pay it.) Before you head to the DMV, make sure you have not only your tax receipt, but also your vehicle’s title and registration, and proof of liability insurance.
Lexington County Auditor’s Office lex-co.sc.gov, 785-8181
Lexington County Treasurer’s Office
Irmo/Ballentine DMV
Customer Service
1016 Broadstone Rd., 749-9041
Billing, Service: 545-3300 Maintenance: 545-3900 Quality: 545-3400
Lexington DMV 122 Park Rd., 356-8537
O’Neil Court DMV 228A O’Neil Ct., 419-9403
Shop Road DMV
City of West Columbia Water and Sewer Services 791-1880
1630 Shop Rd., 737-8350
Utilities Unless you’re living on campus, you’ll need to sign up for water, electricity and/ or gas service. For most of you, that’ll mean SCE&G.
lex-co.sc.gov, 785-8217
Power
Richland County Auditor’s Office
Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative
richlandonline.com, 576-2600
mcecoop.com, 1-888-813-8000
Richland County Treasurer’s Office
South Carolina Electric & Gas
richlandonline.com, 576-2250
sceg.com, 1-800-251-7234
S.C. Driver & Vehicle Services
Tri-County Electric Cooperative
scdmvonline.com, 737-8350
tri-countyelectric.net, 1-877-874-1215
Driver’s License
Cable TV and Internet
If you’re planning on establishing residency — you know, for the lower tuition — you should go ahead and get your South Carolina driver’s license. The good news: You have 90 days to get your license. The bad news: You’ll need to go to the DMV. That sucks, but you can get out faster if you know what you’re doing. (Also: Unless you’re a masochist, take care of your vehicle registration at the same time.) If you have a valid license from your previous home state, you’re golden; if you don’t, you’ll have to pass the written and road exams. (You’ll have to take a mandatory eye exam either way.) And if you only need to renew your license, you can do it at scdmvonline.com. The five-year renewal costs $12.50; the 10-year plan is, logically, $25. Of course, where you go is just as important: The Shop Road DMV is your one-stop spot for anything and everything DMVrelated. Lines used to be horrendous but are much better these days. Contact the DMV Call Center at 896-5000 or the S.C. Department of Driver & Vehicle Services at 737-4000 for further details.
It’s the 21st century. It’s hard to imagine anyone living without cable television or the Internet. Both AT&T and Time Warner Cable offer landline-cable-Internet bundles; go with whichever tickles your fancy. Do note, though, that AT&T’s U-Verse service is not yet available in all areas of Columbia.
AT&T U-Verse att.com/u-verse, 1-800-288-2020
Time Warner Cable twcsc.com, 1-866-892-7201
Water There are a bunch of local municipal water services and a few private ones, too. Which one you hook up with depends upon where you live. Not sure who to call? Ask your next-door neighbor where their water comes from.
Lexington County Joint Municipal Water & Sewer Commission lcjmwsc.com, 359-8373 Serves unincorporated parts of Lexington County south of Lake Murray.
Richland County Public Works, Utilities & Services Division Billing, 24-hour maintenance: 576-2094 General: 401-0050
Town of Lexington Utilities 359-2434
Library Card OK, so maybe having a library card isn’t high on your list of priorities. But we at Free Times know there are still many among you that enjoy turning off the TV and curling up with a good book. And we salute you. Also, the library has tons of DVDs, CDs, ebooks and more. We know your university has a wellstocked library. But Richland County’s library system is one the finest in the nation. Obtaining a library card is, thankfully, much easier than getting a driver’s license: Library cards are free to all residents, and out-of-county residents can obtain a library card for a nominal annual fee. Same deal in Lexington County: You can get a card at any branch upon verification of current name and residential address.
Richland Library richlandlibrary.com Main branch located on Assembly Street in downtown Columbia; 11 branches altogether.
Lexington County Public Library
City of Cayce Utilities Department
lex.lib.sc.us/
796-9020
Ten locations (and a bookmobile!); main branch located on Augusta Road in Lexington.
Handles sanitation and water services.
City of Columbia Water
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Sex PREGNANT? SCARED? NEED HELP?
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et’s talk about sex. You’re an adult now — so they tell you — and away from home for the first time, surrounded by peers suddenly thrown into the same situation. Alcohol — while possibly still illegal for you to consume— will doubtlessly be plentiful. Sex will be a constant theme during your college existence, and your choices relating to it will have a big impact on how this experience turns out for you. A few things to remember:
No means no. Forever and always.
If you’ve been a victim of sexual assault, get help. Among the folks at USC’s Student Health Services are Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention & Prevention (SAVIP) Advocates. They’re there to
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Percentage of college students who have had a “friends with benefits” relationship.
Source: Wayne State University and Michigan State University
ber? So don’t go there if that’s not what you want. (And trust us, that’s not what you want.) Even if it is what you want, it’s likely not what your partner wants.
Don’t venture to bars or house parties without a friend or two. All that booze is going to dull that voice in your head that tells you when things are a bad idea, so you’re going to need reinforcements to keep you out of trouble.
Don’t feel forced to go there if the time isn’t right for you.
You are not alone. We understand. We care.
“offer support and services to students, faculty, and staff who are survivors of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, relationship difficulties, dating issues, domestic issues and/ or any forms of interpersonal violence.” Among other things, SAVIP offers 24-hour, on-call services to assist students. The number to call is 777-8248.
Don’t be stupid. Fellas, wrap it up. Ladies, make sure your fella wraps it up. And for those who fall somewhere else on sexuality’s broad spectrum, make sure you’re playing it safe in whatever activities you choose to engage. Sex is great. It can also lead to serious complications if you aren’t careful.
If you want your sex life to be private, keep it private. If
24hr Helpline
803-771-6634
www.daybreakpregnancy.com 10
SEX | FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE
you’re throwing updates about your intimate activities onto your Twitter and Facebook, people will find them — it’s called social media, remem-
If you don’t want to have sex, then don’t. Plenty of college kids before you have made it through their four years healthy and happy without it. Don’t feel forced to go there if the time isn’t right for you.
If you’re living with a roommate, you’re going to want to establish a policy about sexual activity. Sock on the door? Always a solid plan. Banning sex from the room? It’s certainly an option, but it’s also one of those rules that’s likely to get broken. Either way, your best shot to avoid walking in on something you don’t want to see is to cover that subject in advance.
Relax. You’ve got a lot of things to worry about now besides sex. Strive to include it in your life only to the point that it relieves your stress, not adds to it. This is admittedly an impossible mark to hit, but we can always try. 2014 | free-times.com
Safety
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olumbia has roughly 132,000 residents, which means that you’re not just surrounded by students on campus, but an entire urban area as well. Does that mean you should be fearful? No — just aware. After all, most crimes committed against students (roughly 80 percent) are done by other students. Part of staying safe is knowing what’s going on in your community. For that, make sure you sign up for emergency text messages or online updates via the Carolina Alert system (sc.edu/carolinaalert or @CarolinaAlert). They’ll notify you of everything from severe storms to sexual assaults. When it comes to Five Points, with its cheap booze and late night fun, it’s worth exercising some special caution so you don’t become a victim.
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USC Police les.sc.edu 24-hour dispatch:
777-4215 First, never walk around alone at night. It’s one thing to stroll to Drip for a coffee at 10:30 a.m., but it’s something
be available at certain marked spots in Five Points — and no, they won’t be hassling you for being drunk, just taking you safely back to where you need to go. Also, crime can happen not only on the street, but also in a bar or on campus. In fact, most crimes are personalproperty crimes. Take a look at the area around campus on raidsonline.com — a crimemapping tool — and you’ll see mostly larceny and theft charges. The USC police also
Crime can happen on the street, in a bar or on campus. entirely different to walk down to a bar by yourself at 11 p.m. — or, even worse, to walk back from the bar alone at 2 a.m. Lucky for you, the City of Columbia has just rolled out a new transportation plan to help students get from Five Points to campus late at night. Thursday through Saturday nights, cabs and shuttles will
post a daily crime log. In 2012 there were 32 burglaries, 35 vehicle thefts, three arson reports, two robberies and two sexual assaults reported on campus, according to the federal government’s Office of Postsecondary Education (ope. ed.gov/security). Here are some key tips to help keep you safe:
(1) Keep your phone with you — and keep it on, (2) make sure someone knows where you are at all times, (3) don’t get in a car with someone who’s been drinking or taking drugs, (4) know where the emergency call boxes are on campus (there are more than 200 of them), (5) don’t leave a drink unattended because someone could slip a date-rape drug into it, (6) don’t leave valuables unattended, even if it’s only for a few minutes and (7) be aware of your surroundings at all times. Yes, that means don’t text while you’re crossing the street. That’s a long list and you may not remember it all, but try to remember this: Carry your phone at all times, don’t go out alone and trust your instincts — if a situation feels dangerous, it probably is.
FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE | SAFETY
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Housing
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n the surface, the housing question is simple. If you’re a USC freshman, you’re required to live on campus. If you’re not a freshman, you can live anywhere you like. The question is, what kind of a living experience are you looking for? Many off-campus studenthousing communities have popped up around Columbia in recent years. Some offer resort-style living, with swimming pools, fancy gyms and upscale suites; others, your basic white-walled, beigecarpeted three-bedroom apartment. Some offer the dorm experience, with activities and programs; others just want you to pay your rent on time. If you’re new to town and want to meet people, student communities can be a good option. They’re also good if you’re young and your parents want to be sure you’re living in
ing to immerse yourself in all that Columbia has to offer. It’s good if you’re looking to take on a little more responsibility and gain a little more freedom. And, let’s face it, it’s good if you’re looking to party really, really hard. Just respect your neighbors, and take note that the City of Columbia doesn’t allow indoor furniture like couches on the front porch. Looking for housing? The University of South Carolina maintains a directory of off-campus housing listings at offcampushousing.sc.edu; you’ll need your USC network ID and password to log in. Also included on the site is a message board where you can search for roommates, buy and sell furniture and get your questions answered. You should also keep an eye out for signs around campus; ask around to find out how people like their apartment or
The University of South Carolina maintains a directory of off-campus housing listings at offcampushousing.sc.edu. a controlled environment. On the downside, these living situations can cut you off from the city you’re living in — sometimes literally, given that many aren’t in walking distance from campus and will require you to drive or take a private shuttle. Columbia is home to a lot of student housing in the classic sense: rental houses and apartments tucked in the leafy neighborhoods surrounding the school. Sometimes you’ll deal with an individual landlord, sometimes with a property management company. In most cases, you’ll have to line up your utilities yourself, which often requires a credit check. This sort of renting is a good option if you’re look-
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HOUSING | FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE
property management company; and check the Free Times classified section regularly. No matter where you’re living, you’re probably not doing so alone. Whether you’re living with your best friend since 3rd grade or some random kid from Pelion, you’re probably going to deal with some rough times. Just remember: You don’t have to like everyone, but you do have to learn to get along with people who aren’t like you. However, if your oncampus roommate is seriously hampering your ability to get your work done or enjoy your college experience, talk to your RA about some strategies — or, if necessary, a room change.
2014 | free-times.com
Espresso Yourself
1210 Main Street Near Main and Gervais (803) 931-1200 FirstCitizensCafe.com @fccafecola free-times.com | 2014
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ment shop that stocks the runway labels. Looking for retro clothing? Scavenge Gentleman’s Closet (Five Points: 717 Saluda Ave., 256-3868) for a vintage suit or dress shoes. For other vintage and recycled selections, as well as some new items, stop by Double Takes (Vista: 1211 Lincoln St., 7712335, facebook.com/doubletakesvista). Customers can consign clothes for cash or store credit. If you’re looking to buy or trade clothes, meet Sid & Nancy (Five Points: 733 Saluda Ave., 779-6454, shopsidnancy.com). Sid & Nancy carries affordable clothes, jewelry, accessories, gifts and more. Recycle vintage clothing for cash, or trade in a book and check out another for free. For catalog clothing at reduced prices, check out The OOPS! Co. (601 Harden St., 252-8734, theoopsco.com). Students get 10 percent off on Wednesdays.
Double Takes PHOTO BY SETH GADSDEN
Shopping
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hen it comes to fashion, Columbia probably has what you’re looking for — and maybe what you didn’t know you were looking for, too. You know, it is fun to actually try on that new outfit — and get some immediate feedback from your friends — rather than just hoping that what you order online will look how you want it to. Here are some places to shop.
Off the Beaten Path If you’re looking for hippie and bohemian threads and merchandise, Loose Lucy’s (Five Points: 709 Saluda Ave., 252-1390, looselucys.com) has the vibe you want. The store started in 1990 selling tie-dye shirts in the parking lot at Grateful Dead shows. But it’s not just hippie threads here; you can pick up a Johnny-Cash-flips-thebird shirt, too. If you’re looking for eclectic costumes for themed parties — or vintage clothing, jewelry and accessories to wear every day — make Hip-Wa-Zee (Five Points: 940 Harden St., 376-1500, hipwazee.net) your first stop.
Dressing in Style Looking for an eye-catching, custommade dress for any occasion? Check out LaRoque (2700 Devine St., 765-6062, shoplaroque.com). Urban Outfitters (Vista: 912 Gervais St., 254-5381) sells clothes that are smart, hip and flexible enough to go from the
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classroom to a night out. Urban also sells a variety of items, from cameras to backpacks to vinyl records. Bohemian (Five Points: 707 Saluda Avenue, 256-0629, shop-bohemian.com), like its furniture-oriented counterpart, specializes in well-edited and contemporary tastes. It stocks stylish women’s clothing and accessories; don’t miss its shoes and jewelry. For high-end designers, Coplon’s (Forest Acres: 4825 Forest Drive, 790-0015, coplons.com) carries labels from Jason Wu and Oscar de la Renta to coveted Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo shoes. Coplon’s is Columbia’s high-end women’s clothing shop that also sells handbags, jewelry and cosmetics.
Vintage, Recycled, Reduced If you want high-end designers without paying high-end prices, Revente (Five Points: 737 Saluda Ave., 256-3076, shoprevente.com) is a designer consign-
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For Stylish Guys If you’re a guy who can talk denim washes and fit with knowledge and ease, Circa 1332 (Downtown: 1332 Main St., 252-6714, facebook.com/Circa1332) is for you. From suits to trousers to shoes, whether it’s casual or formal, Granger Owings (Downtown: 1333 Main St., 252-6714, grangerowings.com) will get you looking right. For the latest prepster trends, head to Brittons (2818 Devine St., 771-2700, brittonsofcolumbia.com).
Coming Soon Columbia has seen a big influx recently of major chains that once considered the city too small a market to enter. Next up: J. Crew and Anthropologie, both of which will be coming to Trenhom Plaza in Forest Acres. If you thought parking was tight there now, just wait. The stores are expected to open this fall.
Don’t Forget Your Feet — Or Your Eyes Good for the Sole (Five Points: 631 Harden St., 254-9488) will have you stepping in the right direction. The store carries brands like Jack Rogers, Naot, Cushe, Sperry, Taos, Rainbow, OTZ and Fly London. For unique eyewear, get into Frame of Mind (Downtown: 1520 Main St., 9881065, artofeyewear.com).
Accessorize With inspiration from cultures throughout the world, check out HandPicked (Devine Street: 2822 Devine St., 251-2946, handpicked.com) for creative and trendy jewlery. Also peek into Julia Neal Fashions (Five Points: 721 Saluda Ave., 799-1616),
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BLO II Vista
which offers a high-end boutique feel without the sky-high prices. If you’re into shopping at stores that have a curatorial presentation of inventory, Van Jean (Devine Street: 2734 Devine St., 252-4339, shopvanjean.com) stocks a welledited selection of designer wares. Don’t miss Van Jean’s sales or the back room with marked-down inventory. Whether it’s for football games in fall or flings in the spring, there’s always a need for trendy dresses, tops, handbags, jewelry and shoes. Make a trip to Wish (Five Points: 713 Saluda Ave., 931-3247, ilovewish.com).
Salty’s Surf Shop PHOTO BY AUSTIN PRICE
Skaters, Surfers and Runners Whether you are a skater or want to look like one, skate through Bluetile Skateshop (Five Points: 621 Harden St., 376-1880, bluetilesc.com), a skater-owned skate shop that carries a variety of skateboards, equipment, shoe and clothing brands. If you need a board or, really, if you’re just bored, Salty’s Surf Shop (Devine Street: 2712 Devine St., 748-9946, (facebook.com/ SaltysBoardShop) is the place for board sports, gear, clothing and accessories. Salty’s also carries a full line of eyewear from the likes of Costa del Mar and Smith, as well as a wide selection of flip-flops and TOMS.
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Callidora Salon 915 Lady St. Suite 333
803 799 2009
callidorasalonvista.com Online Booking Available Student Discounts Available
For those into playing sports, the locally owned Todd & Moore Sporting Goods (Vista: 620 Huger St., 765-0150, toddandmoore.com) offers athletic wear and goods for all sports. Celebrating its 70th anniversary. For those into running, run straight to Strictly Running (Devine Street: 2515 Devine St., 799-4786, facebook.com/ strictlyrunning). You’ll find running gear and running partners. For the great outdoors, Half-Moon Outfitters (Devine Street: 2912 Devine St., 929-0771, halfmoonoutfitters.com) has gear, clothing and footwear. The store occupies an expansive space on Devine Street complete with a solar panel tree, which powers the store. Also for the outdoors, The Backpacker (Vista: 1215 Wayne St., 799-7571, backpackerqualitygear.com) carries all your favorites including Patagonia and The North Face.
Half-Moon Outfitters
PHOTO BY AUSTIN PRICE
Need Anything Else? If you’re looking for something general, go to Mast General (Downtown: 1601 Main St., 771-2300, mastgeneralstore. com). You can find just about anything.
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Groucho’s Deli FILE PHOTO
Food
C
Here’s a hint, though: Even if your diet would make a nutritionist weep, your wallet and your waistline will still fare better if you stay away from fast food chains and stick with food from local restaurants. Columbia has plenty of walletfriendly eateries catering to the college crowd.
Andy’s Deli (2005 Greene St., 799-2639) is a friendly and classic local deli.
College Delis
Pita Pit (2002 Greene St., 799-4557) will make you feel virtuous (actual vegetables!) while still filling you up.
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FILE PHOTO
you’d miss out on these local gems:
hances are you’ll never eat as terribly as you do in college. You’ll find out quickly about the inescapable Freshman 15 — the 15 pounds freshmen typically pack on from too much pizza and not enough exercise or vegetables — not to mention the horrors of the unlimited dining plan.
These tried-and-true near-campus sandwich shops are a rite of passage for every Carolina student. Hell, your grandparents probably remember some of these places:
Yesterdays
Beezer’s (919 Sumter St., 771-7771) makes great sandwiches fast. Groucho’s Deli (611 Harden St., 799-5708) has been in business since the 1940s. The STP Dipper is legendary.
Pizza Sure, you could order a pizza from a big pizza chain. But
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Dano’s (3008 Rosewood Dr., 254-3266) is a low-key neighborhood joint with cheap pizza and lots of TVs. Nicky’s Pizzeria (2123 Greene St., 748-9661) serves New York-style pizza — Sicilian or thin. Pizza Man (341 S. Woodrow St., 252-6931) specializes in super-crispy, cracker-thin crust — a love-it-or-hate-it proposition — with cheap-slice nights on Tuesdays. Thirsty Fellow (621 Gadsden St., 799-1311) makes a kickass crust and has a great beer selection. Village Idiot (2009 Devine St., 252-8646) is a venerable institution with cheap pizza and even cheaper beers.
Delivery Sometimes, you’re studying too hard to get off the couch — or you’re too hungover to haul your ass further than the front
door. For those times, these are our favorite options. Lots of other places listed in this section offer delivery, too; just ask. (And don’t be a jerk: Tip your delivery driver.) The aforementioned Beezer’s (919 Sumter St., 771-7771) sells big, tasty sandwiches — and delivers them until the wee hours. Insomnia Cookies (2013 Devine St., 877-632-6654) delivers gooey, warm, slightly underbaked cookies until 3 a.m. Tea Pot (829 Knox Abbott Rd., 796-5888) offers cheap and tasty Chinese food and delivers within a wide radius.
More Chinese Food Other great Chinese options close to the university include Main Moon (2800-D Rosewood Dr., 251-8990), Eggroll Station (135 Sunset Blvd., 791-4060) and Eggroll Chen (715 Crowson Rd., 787-6820).
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The Whig FILE PHOTO
Late Nights You’ll probably end up at Grilled Teriyaki (748 Harden St., 933-9950) some night, wondering what exactly is in the addictive white sauce you just drizzled all over your fried rice. The Whig (1200 Main St.; 931-8852) isn’t for just any college student — it helps if you like, say, the Buzzcocks — but it serves great bar food (burgers, cheese fries) till late. Tuesday nights mean 75-cent tacos. If you’re up really late, there are a few Waffle Houses in the area, most notably in Five Points (916 Harden St., 7990313) and next to Williams Brice Stadium (1210 Bluff Road, 544-9685).
Southern Comfort Missing grandma’s house? For true Southern comfort food, you’ve got two leading candidates: Yesterdays (2030 Devine St., 799-0196) is a great non-fratty Five Points bar and a low-key Southern restaurant.
Lizard’s Thicket (818 Elmwood Ave., 779-6407; for other locations, see lizardsthicket.com) is a local meat-and-three chain that makes indispensable pot roast.
Tacos and Mexican Food Want cheap, healthy burritos and tacos? Head to Five Points classic El Burrito (934 Harden St., 765-2188). Tio’s (921 Sumter St., 252-7229) is a chill place for a smothered burrito and a Corona. And Cantina 76 (1301 Main St., 764-1769, and 2901A Devine St., 708-6004) is a good place to impress a date — tasty margaritas, affordable tacos — without spending a million bucks. That’s just a small sampling. Keep an eye on Free Times and Bites & Sights for coupons and other deals.
Tios Mexican café 921 Sumter St
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Nightlife USC CAMPUS / MAIN STREET Bourbon 1214 Main St., 403-1404 bourboncolumbia.com Go for the bourbon, stay for the whiskey. Serves higher-end Cajun-Creole cuisine like squash jambalaya, bayou burgers, seared duck breast, steaks and more.
Hunter-Gatherer
Social FILE PHOTO
Music & Nightlife
Y
ou might have heard that Columbia’s kind of boring. That going to USC — or one of the area’s other colleges — means you show up, do your time, then use your degree to head off to larger nearby burgs like Atlanta or Charlotte, or a vast metropolis like New York — you know, places where stuff actually happens.
Don’t believe the hype. Columbia’s music scene is on the upswing, flush with exciting local bands, an auditorium (the venerable Township) that’s raking in names like Jack White (Sept. 24) and Skrillex (Oct. 27) and a brand new Music Farm, a sister to the legendary large rock club with the same name down in Charleston, meaning the Midlands might well start to attract a solid selection of the hippest indie bands. And if live music isn’t your thing, Columbia still has you covered. With a wide selection of dance clubs and cool bars strewn throughout the Congaree Vista, Five Points and other neighborhoods close to campus, you’ll rarely be without something to do. Just make sure you find time to study. Below, you’ll find a selection of the city’s nightlife highlights.
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Music Venues Colonial Life Arena 801 Lincoln St., 576-9200 coloniallifearena.com You’ll go here for basketball games. You’ll also go here for the area’s biggest concerts. Recent visitors include Bruno Mars, Darius Rucker and R. Kelly. The arena doesn’t host many shows, but when it does host a concert, it’s a big deal.
Township Auditorium 1703 Taylor St., 576-2350 thetownship.org The Township hosts more shows, many of which are also a big deal. R&B greats, classic rock legends and popular modern artists are all on the menu at this beautiful 3,000seat room.
Music Farm Columbia 1022 Senate St., 471-2779 musicfarm.com/venues/ music-farm-columbia With a capacity of about 1,000, the new Music Farm brings Columbia the large rock club it has sorely missed for most of the last decade. Expect a mix of Americana up-andcomers, feisty indie rock bands and other cool events.
New Brookland Tavern 122 State St., 791-4413 newbrooklandtavern.com An endearingly dilapidated watering hole in West Columbia, New Brookland is the longest-running rock club in the area. It’s also a fine place to stop in for a cheap PBR — as well as the best place in town to catch local bands and onthe-rise touring bands.
Conundrum Music Hall 626 Meeting St., 250-1295 conundrum.us Looking to get weird? Go to Conundrum, a mecca for avant-garde jazz, out-there rock ‘n’ roll and basically any show that’s a little too out-there for the town’s other rooms.
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE | FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE
900 Main St., 748-0540 huntergathererbrewery.com This stalwart brewpub boasts awesome bartenders, scrumptious entrées and an excellent beer and liquor selection. Looking to impress your date? You can’t go wrong here.
Sheraton Rooftop Lounge 1400 Main St., 988-1400 Not for the acrophobic, the Sheraton’s hip Rooftop Lounge offers a classy clientele, fine libations and desserts, plus a panoramic view of the Capital City.
The Whig 1200 Main St., 931-8852 thewhig.org This dark, underground bohemia offers good, cheap beer and good, cheap liquor to go along with good, cheap eats. Has an awesome jukebox filled with classic punk, Motown, jazz and much more. Also offers occasional DJs and live bands.
FIVE POINTS / SHANDON / ROSEWOOD Bar None 620 Harden St., 254-3354 Established in 1994, this is where the bartenders and servers go to wind down after all the other bars close. Also serves up some absurdly delicious smoked wings.
Blazing Copper 812-814 Harden St., 779-4445 blazingcopper.com Venturing to increase the live music quotient in Five Points, this new joint frequently hosts the usual area bar bands to bolster a welcoming atmosphere and Five Points-appropriate specials.
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Your Original Source for Authentic Brands like Medicali, Roor and much more.
CJ’s
and a swanky, cozy-cool vibe.
749 Saluda Ave., 748-8694 Its retractable exterior wall opens to reveal the Five Points fountain plaza, thus making CJ’s a great spot for taking in this colorful corner of Columbia.
Lucky’s
Cock N Bull Pub 326 S. Edisto Ave. 251-4474 facebook.com/cocknbull.pub The Cock N Bull is an English-style pub with soccer matches aplenty on the tube. Pub food and daily specials include shepherd’s pie, fish-nchips, pot roast and more.
Concocktions 724 Harden St., 256-8860 The “cock” in the middle suggests that it’s a Gamecocksloving sports bar. And it is! 2013
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Delaney’s 741 Saluda Ave., 779-2345 delaneysspeakeasy.com Delaney’s is as Irish as it comes here in the Bible belt. Personable staff, live music and a vibrant atmosphere round out the package.
Foxfield Bar and Grille 406 Howard St., 728-0420 facebook.com/foxfieldbar Cozy and understated Rosewood hangout with a friendly vibe, epically cheap drink specials and a lovely back patio. Also a surprising hot spot for punk and metal shows.
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2107 Greene St., 256-1203 grouptherapybar.com Columbia’s quintessential college bar, with cheap drinks, loud music and an outdoor oasis to escape the crowd. Group wrote the book on college partying in Columbia.
Jake’s 2112 Devine St., 252-5253 jakesofcolumbia.com The renewed Five Points institution is as friendly as ever, and offers the same variety of televised sports and multiple bar stations. Surprisingly diverse farm-to-table food menu, too.
The Kraken Gastropub 2910 Rosewood Dr., 955-7408 facebook/com/thekrakengastropub A hip spot in Rosewood, The Kraken offers a wide swath of draft beers, signature beer-based cocktails, upscale bar-food menu
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE | FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE
2100-B Devine St., 929-1118 facebook.com/ luckysin5points For the Vista experience in Five Points, Lucky’s is your place — good wine and beer selection and an outdoor patio.
Nightcaps 2722 Devine St., 771-6575 An out-of-the-way place with respect to Five Points, Nightcaps has a pool table, a big-screen television, comfy lounge chairs and a good latenight atmosphere.
Pavlov’s 2000-B Greene St. pavlovsofcolumbia.com Tucked behind the Salty Nut, Pavlov’s is a long-time stomping ground of college revelers and serves as hallowed ground for many in the fraternity and sorority circles.
Pinch 640 Harden St., 708-6838 Next door to Lucky’s, Pinch, too, offers Vista atmosphere at Five Points prices. On-tap beers are rotated frequently, and frequently feature high-class offerings.
Publick House 2307 Devine St., 256-2207 Exceptional beer selection, challenging trivia, hip music selection, über-friendly staff, good burgers and the best raw fries around.
Salty Nut Café 2000 Greene St., 256-4611 saltynut.com Salty Nut is a lunch spot by day, and it probably blanches at being called a college bar. Still, it’s the first place you hit coming down Greene Street from campus, and thus likely the first stop on many pub crawls. But it’s a great, cozy bar with good food, too.
The Southern Belly 1332 Rosewood Dr., 799-5212 southernbellybbq.com A cozy bar that also serves barbecue.
Speakeasy 711 Saluda Ave., 255-0869 delaneysspeakeasy.com Delaney’s classy, hip younger sibling boasts a fine liquor
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selection, great beers and a top-notch staff, as well as fine cigars, comfy couches and weekly jazz nights.
The Tavern on Greene 2002-C Greene St., 252-7265 Perhaps unfairly labeled as a hippie bar — though it is especially welcoming to Dead, Spread and Phish heads — the Tavern on Greene is a late night hangout for local musicians and party people alike.
The Thirsty Parrot 734 Harden St., 708-4768 Like Jimmy Buffett? You’ll most likely dig this place, which offers fine burgers and spirits in an easygoing atmosphere.
TLC Sports Bar and Grill
Our low prices and great clothes may cause... In the heart of the Vista between Cupcake and Starbucks
936 S. Stadium Rd., 251-3087 Built to withstand even the toughest of game days, The Loose Cockaboose is the ultimate Gamecock bar, located within a stone’s throw of Williams-Brice and offering enough food, drink and fun to satisfy even the most orangeblooded Clemson fan.
Village Idiot 2009 Devine St., 252-8646 villageidiotpizza.com Columbia’s quintessential college-town pizza joint in a pub atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to enjoy delicious fare, cold beer, wallet-friendly weekly specials and a heaping helping of revelry.
Yesterdays Restaurant and Tavern 2030 Devine St., 799-0196 yesterdayssc.com A great place for an undergrad to take his or her squeeze out for dinner without maxing out the credit card. Good food, above-average beer and liquor selection. Bar in the back has its own entrance on Devine Street. A veritable Columbia landmark since 1978.
THE VISTA Art Bar 1211 Park St., 929-0198 artbarsc.com Cool but never pretentious, the Art Bar is good for peoplewatching, conversation and rock ‘n’ roll. Its Saturdays (and occasional Thursdays) are filled
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MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE | FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE
with fun touring bands and established locals.
Blue. 721A Lady St., 251-4447 blueinthevista.org Blue, a tapas bar and cocktail lounge, features Columbia’s only ice bar and draws in big crowds for its popular ’80s night on Wednesdays. Cozy late-night spot as well.
Carolina Ale House 708 Lady St., 227-7150 carolinaalehouse.com Southeastern chain grilleand-groggery offers good eats, a good beer selection and plenty of televised sports. Features the Vista’s hottest rooftop bar and plenty of fun drink specials.
Flying Saucer 931 Senate St., 933-9997 beerknurd.com Flying Saucer led the wave of craft beer love in Columbia. Offering more selections than most commoners could imagine, it’s a beer drinker’s paradise with a nice front porch — plus waitresses in schoolgirl uniforms.
Jillian’s 800 Gervais St., 779-7789 jillianscolumbia.com Jillian’s offers billiard tables, an arcade, a beach volleyball court, ping-pong tables, walls of huge flat-screen televisions and more in addition to its extensive list of imports, domestics and other assorted cocktails and libations.
Kelly’s Deli & Pub 1001 Washington St., 254-4464 If this converted fire station reminds you of Five Points, it’s probably because its owners cut their teeth working for places like Group Therapy and Jungle Jim’s. These Gamecock fans host regular acoustic performances in addition to karaoke and open mic contests.
Liberty Tap Room 828 Gervais St., 461-4677 libertytaproom.com Affiliated with the brewpubs of the same name out on the coast, Columbia’s Liberty focuses more on other people’s beer than its own. But between the clientele, much-acclaimed menu and massive beer list, we doubt you’ll mind.
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Pearlz
SakiTumi
Tsunami
Wild Wing Café
936 Gervais St., 661-7741 pearlzoysterbar.com As an oyster bar, Pearlz specializes in all things bivalve mollusk. But its hip, trendy ambience and signature martinis make it a hotspot for Columbia’s young, urban professional crowd. Its new upstairs room offers live jazz and blues on the weekends.
807 Gervais St., 931-0700 sakifresh.com Sushi, sake and salacious servers ... what else could you want out of an über-hip Vista sushi bar?
700-C Gervais St., 312-9911 tsunamicompany.com Two chic sushi bars within two blocks of each other in the Vista? Be still our beating hearts! Tsunami’s elegant, contemporary atmosphere and ample seating area complements its extensive sake, wine and beer selection.
729 Lady St., 252-9464 wildwingcafe.com Sure, Wild Wing Café has sandwiches, salads and soup, but the obvious draw is its 33 flavors of wings. If you can’t decide on one, get the sampler platter. Also boasts a ton of TVs, a party atmosphere and a steady stream of regional rock bands.
Uncle Fester’s Sports Bar
The Woody
522 Devine St., 748-9897 facebook.com/ UncleFestersBar While most of the Soda City’s bars are closing up shop on Sunday morning, this watering hole between Palmetto Pig and Todd & Moore keeps the party going. Always packed with a diverse clientele.
808 Lady St., 779-9663 facebook.com/ TheWoodyInTheVista Named after beloved Columbia oldies disc jockey Woody Windham, The Woody is a popular Vista spot for shag and salsa dancing, but is way welcoming to partiers in their 20s, too. Offers nightly drink specials.
Uncle Louie’s
World of Beer
1125 Park St., 933-9833 Its no-frills, no-nonsense attitude has endeared this unassuming local bar to a loyal legion of regulars, but there’s always room for more.
902-F Gervais St., 509-6020 worldofbeer.com/Locations/ The-Vista Offers over 500 different beers. Yes, Virginia: Five hundred beers on draft and in bottles. Wine and cigars, too.
PT’s 1109 1109 Assembly St., 253-8900 You could live your whole life in Columbia and not know this gay bar exists, and, frankly, its regulars probably wouldn’t mind all that much. Conversely, this haunt is a treasure to the folks who frequent it.
Rocket Man 700 Gervais St. (Suite B-2), 764-7529 What’s better than a guy in the corner playing piano? Two guys in the corner playing piano. (Or ladies, as the case might be.) Features dueling piano shows Thursday through Saturday nights.
Social 918 Gervais St., 603-4323 socialcolumbiasc.com The surprisingly hopping Social is one of Columbia’s hottest nightclubs, drawing a variety of world-class EDM artists to get the party going, frequently without a cover charge.
Thirsty Fellow 621 Gadsden St., 799-1311 thirstyfellow.com The pizza is great — really, all the food is — plus, this closeto-campus bar is super-friendly, offers great beers and has a great deck area.
Tin Roof 1022 Senate St., 771-1558 tinroofbars.com Started in Atlanta in 1996, Tin Roof now has five locations in the Southeast. Its calling cards: live music, good food and a laid-back atmosphere.
facebook.com/RitasLadyStreet 803.200.3639
NOW OPEN 800 Lady St in the Vista
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Wet Willie’s 800 Gervais St., 779-5650 wetwillies.com Serves grain alcohol slushies — er, daiquiris — and, as such, is a late-night Vista favorite. Also has a pretty kick-ass music room upstairs.
The Wild Hare 902-B Gervais St., 929-0374 wildharesc.com Serves up hefty portions of some hefty selections (try the potato cakes!), and earns points for televisions and attractive wait staff. Down-to-earth crowd.
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE | FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE
West Columbia Red Door Tavern 134 1/2 State St., 764-5196 reddoortavern.net Cheap drinks and pub food, plus pinball games, a pool table, frequent stand-up comedy nights and occasional live music.
State Street Pub 136 State St., 796-2006 An across-the-bridge institution, State Street Pub wins its crowd with pool, cheap beer, sports and plenty of charm. Loads of beers on tap. You’ll need to be a member, but you should be.
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Fifteen Twitter Feeds Every Gamecock Should Follow
W
e get a ton of information on Twitter these days. Whether it’s the latest updates on our favorite celebrities or the newest viral videos streamlined to one place, Twitter has become one of the fastest platforms for gathering information. As such, here’s a list of accounts that’ll prove useful during your time as a Gamecock. @BrokeInColumbia: If there’s anything college student’s don’t have, it’s money. Founded by Jillian Owens, whose ReFashionista blog has been featured on Good Morning America, this account highlights deals on booze, food, fashion and entertainment. @CarolinaAlert: A great day or night of fun can be ruined by a single moment of danger. Keep calm and follow Carolina Alerts for notices on criminal activity, inclement weather and areas to avoid around campus. @Carolina_Dining: Pro tip — Your eating habits don’t have to go to total s#!t just because you’re in college. Follow for information on healthier eating, and updates on dining options in and around the Russell House. @Collegefessions: College kids are crazy. How crazy? Follow this Twitter account to get a peek at what university students across the nation will do for a case of beer or a ride to the mall. @DrinkingTicket: You’re going to have plenty of chances to consume alcohol during your college career. This Columbiabased account will help you find the cheapest deals on booze, while also providing alerts to DUI checkpoints. @FreeTimesSC: Whoa! How’d this get here? Follow for info on music, nightlife, food and all the nutty things that local and state politicians get into — some of which might actually affect you. @FunnyVines: The advent of these bite-sized videos has
free-times.com | 2014
made it even easier to tumble down that slippery slope of unproductivity. Follow with caution. @GamecockFB: Football is kind of a big deal at the University of South Carolina. Follow for videos and interviews from your favorite SEC team. @GamecockMakeout: Watching two people suck each other’s faces off is equal parts hilarious and gross. This account captures both sides of the spectrum. @thegamecock: This is a student-run, daily newspaper that covers campus news, sports, music and film. Also has student columns that provide different perspectives on hotbutton topics around campus. @SCFashionPolice: One of the great things about attending university is the exposure to a wide variety of cultures and ideas, some of which come through in questionable fashion choices. @usccp: Carolina Productions keeps you up-to-date on the latest comedy shows and musical performances around campus. The best part? Students get in for free. @USCCrushes: Submit anonymous declarations of love in hopes that the person you’ve had your eye on since freshman year feels the same way. Who knows, you might be made aware of your own secret admirer. @UofSC: Giving your future alma mater a quick follow probably isn’t the worst idea in the world. Highlights both current and graduate student accomplishments, and posts updates on general campus occurrences. @UofSCStuLife: This is an account created to promote service and leadership opportunities. Follow for information about doing much more than just going to class. Résumé builder, anyone?
FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE | TWITTER
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SPORTS | FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE
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f you haven’t heard, the Gamecocks are supposed to be pretty good in football this year. Ranked No. 9 nationally in the pre-season Coaches’ Poll, Steve Spurrier’s garnet-clad contingent was also picked by sports writers at this summer’s Southeastern Conference Media Days to face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the league’s championship game. Should that happen, and should the Gamecocks win, they’d likely be a shoo-in to make the new College Football Playoff, placing them two wins away from a national championship. All that is to say that football tickets will be in demand this year. So, how do you get your hands on them? Free student tickets are doled out through an online ticket distribution system — the same goes for basketball and baseball. The system penalizes students if they register for but don’t use a ticket, so don’t be a jerk. And if you miss out in your early years, don’t fret too much. The system assigns Loyalty Points for athletic attendance based mainly on seniority, meaning you’ll get more points for each game attended when you’re older. So, for all you freshmen, that East Carolina game shouldn’t be a problem. But Auburn? Or Clemson? Don’t hold your breath. Find out more about the ticket distribution system by visiting sa.sc.edu/stlife/studenttickets. If you don’t like football, you’re going to feel out of place, as it consumes campus culture during the entire fall semester. Our best advice: Avoid the south ends of Rosewood Drive and Assembly Street if you can, and the Olympia neighborhood altogether. Gameday traffic occupies much of Assembly and Blossom streets close to campus; Rosewood Avenue and Bluff and Shop roads are often bumper-to-bumper as well. If you are going to the game, your best bet is to walk
to Williams-Brice Stadium — even if you live on the far end of campus. There’s also a gameday shuttle, which picks up at the Colonial Life Arena and at Capital City Stadium. Obviously, the university offers other intercollegiate sports, some of which consistently compete at the highest levels — for instance, the Gamecock baseball team, which reeled off back-to-back national championships in 2010 and 2011. This recent success has made baseball tickets a hot commodity. The pre-game atmosphere is a little more laidback than the tailgating hoopla for football, but attendees at the beautiful Carolina Stadium will still find a festive atmosphere and top-level competition. Cheer hard. But no cursing: They’ll throw your ass out! Traffic crunches pretty hard in Olympia during baseball, too, but the shutdown typically doesn’t last all day. Check firstpitch times and plan accordingly. Should you not dig baseball, football or basketball, USC’s soccer and track-and-field teams hold their own as well. Or if you’d rather participate than watch, USC offers a whole host of intramural and club sports, including flag football, soccer, softball and — somewhat surprisingly — ice hockey. Go to the games or play your own. Either way, the university’s sports culture is something you probably can’t avoid during your time on campus.
2014 | free-times.com
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Alcohol & Drugs
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y the time you got to college, chances are you’ve already tried a little whiskey from the liquor cabinet, downed a beer or two at a friend’s house or been to a full-blown kegger on a spring-break trip.
How much do teens and college students drink? By the end of high school, 68 percent of students have had more than a few sips of alcohol and 52 percent say they’ve been drunk, according to the Monitoring the Future survey. Still, rates of drinking are significantly lower than in the past; excessive drinking is about half the level it was 20 years ago. While drinking might have been just an occasional illegal foray in high school, though, it’s a way of life in college. From fraternity parties to tailgating at football games, drinking becomes a whole other ballgame, so to speak. You might want a fake ID to get into the bars in Five Points and the Vista, but you should know that bouncers have seen every trick there is — and getting busted is a serious offense. If you use someone else’s ID to buy alcohol, you could get popped with $100 fine or 30 days in prison on your first offense, as well as having your driver’s license suspended for 90 days. If you alter a driver’s license — as opposed to just lying about your age — you
could face up to a $2,500 fine and six months in jail, and your license could be suspended for six months. So, yeah, that’s serious stuff. Driving while intoxicated will get you in serious trouble, too. How bad could it be? Fines, jail time and a suspended license. Even a first offense could land you in jail for up to 90 days. If you do get popped with an alcohol-related ticket, you’ll need some advice. Drinkingticket.com, founded locally, knows the ropes when it comes to alcohol citations. (It can also help you avoid getting busted in the first place by tipping you off to which bars cops are at.) There are also local lawyers who specialize in this sort of thing, including one (Bubba Cromer) who actually advertises on the wristbands at local bars. Still, your best bet is to stay out of trouble on the front end: Don’t use a fake ID, don’t drink more than you can handle and make sure there’s always a designated driver. Also recommended: If you decide to drink, have a couple of aspirin handy.
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Percentage of Americans with an addiction who started smoking, drinking or using drugs before they were 18.
Source: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
Drugs It’s inevitable: You walk into a party and someone hands you a bong. You go to a friend’s apartment and there’s a guy sitting on the couch hunched over a line of coke. Welcome to college, where drugs aren’t some abstract concept your parents are lecturing you about — they’re being sold door to door in your dorm. Popular drugs on campus include pot, spice/K2 (synthetic pot), amphetamines (speed), Adderall, Vicodin, cough medicine, tranquilizers, sedatives, salvia (a hallucinogen), Oxycontin, MDMA (ecstasy or Molly), inhalants, cocaine and Ritalin. Though still low, heroin use has been increasing. Bottom line: If you’re on a college campus, there are drugs around. What do you do now? There might be someone whose answer is “call the cops
on the guy across the hall,” but Free Times has never met that person. In the real world, your choices most likely come down to: (1) Do you partake? (2) If so, can you do it safely? (3) What do you do if things get out of control? Doing illegal drugs is, well, illegal, and we don’t recommend you do stuff that could cause injury to yourself — or land you in the slammer. Just because pot is legal in Colorado doesn’t mean police in Columbia will cut you a break. Our advice? Don’t do drugs. But if you do, don’t be an idiot about it. Taking something you’ve never heard of is idiotic; so is taking something from someone you don’t know. Taking a large dose of anything is idiotic. Shooting heroin is a lot more dangerous than taking a puff off a joint. And taking anything without being in the presence of people you know and trust is just asking for disaster. Should disaster strike, don’t wait to call for help. If there’s immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, consider USC’s Substance Abuse Prevention & Education line at 777-3933 (@SAPEatUSC on Twitter or sape@sc.edu via email) or the Lexington/Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council (lradac.org) at 726-9300 (Richland County) or 7269400 (Lexington County).
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ALCOHOL & DRUGS | FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE
2014 | free-times.com
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BLOSSOM
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Money
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MONEY | FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE
s it possible to spend $1,000 on pizza and Chinese takeout? Yes, it is. Luckily, you’re too smart to do that. A 2013 Pew Research report shows that millennials are more financially cautious than their parents and are carrying less credit card debt — an average of roughly $1,700 in 2010, down from $2,500 in 2001. As nice as it is to buy iPads and new clothes and to eat out whenever you want to, you know you need to be careful. Here are a few College Board tips for how you can avoid falling into the credit card debt trap: (1) consider using a debit card (which deducts from your checking account) instead of a credit card (which is a loan you have to pay back). (2) beware of introductory teaser rates, late fees and rates on cash advances. (3) pay bills promptly, and pay the full balance off if you can (4) use credit only if you’re certain you are able to repay the debt (5) avoid impulse shopping on your credit card (6) save your credit card for a money emergency. Bottom line: Know what you are spending, and don’t spend more than you have to. That’s where a budget comes in. It will help you get a handle on your monthly expenses — rent, food, car, phone, everything — and figure out how much you can reasonably afford to spend on pizza or beer. Make it easy on yourself: Download a budget app now. Some popular ones include Mint, Manilla, Slice and moneyStrands, CommonCents and Moneydance. As important as your monthly budget is, it’s also important to think about the bigger picture of how much you’re spending to be in college. There’s a good chance that you, your parents or both are racking up a fortune in debt to pay your tuition. The average student racks up $29,400 in student debt, but
$29,400 Average amount of student loan debt Source: projectonstudentdebt.org
there are variations: Students at public schools pile up slightly less debt ($25,550), while students at private ($32,300) and for-profit ($39,930) schools generally end up deeper in debt. Now, there’s a difference between “good debt” and “bad debt.” Loans to pay for your education are generally considered good — because the earnings potential of a college graduate is much higher than that of someone who has only a high school diploma. Still, you should take into consideration the amount of debt you’re taking on in relation to the earnings potential of your particular field. Science, computer, technical and health care fields, for example, will generally offer more earnings potential than journalism, English and art history. We’d never tell you not to develop your creative potential, but when your parents hassle you about coming up with a backup plan, it’s not because they’re jerks — it’s because they don’t want to be paying on your $100,000 debt after you land a $24,000 job. See how that math works? Regardless of what field you’re in, only take out as much in student loans as you absolutely need. If you can offset the amount of loans you need with a part-time job, do it: It could take years off what you are paying back later. Plus, if you can limit the amount of money you need to borrow now, it might give you more flexibility when it comes to deciding what job to take after you graduate.
2014 | free-times.com
free-times.com | 2014
FREE TIMES COLLEGE GUIDE
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1022 SENATE STREET ▪ COLUMBIA, SC 29201 MUSICFARM.COM
Music Farm Productions and Tin Roof are proud to bring Charleston’s celebrated venue, the Music Farm, to the Congaree Vista. Catch a show, grab a drink and be a part of “Growing Great Music” in Greater Columbia!
MUSIC FARM COLUMBIA GRAND OPENING Friday, September 5
THE BLUE DOGS with
THE OCCASIONAL MILKSHAKE
(featuring Mark Bryan from Hootie and the Blowfish)
THE ARCHETYPES YO MAMA’S BIG FAT BOOTY BAND
STOP LIGHT OBSERVATIONS
WASHED OUT
THE WOOD BROTHERS
CHERUB
COREY SMITH
Sept 10
Sept 12
Sept 16
Sept 24
Sept 25
Oct 10
09/03
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RYAN HEMSWORTH
O.A.R.
Nov 06
Nov 17
09/07 09/21 10/08
Music Break 2014: Do Business Like A Rock Star W/ COR Jazz Showcase & Workshop * Free Event* Marc Broussard The Revivalists
10/17 10/29 10/31 11/21
Patrick Davis I’m Shmacked Presents Gamecock Overstock Atlas Road Crew Who’s Bad The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band
M U S I C FA R M . C O M 2014 | free-times.com