Possibly moving to South Carolina...

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson

Have you been to Dooley's BBQ on Old Two notch road yet? Oh my lord, that's the BEST barbecue in the state.

Greenville SC, Henry's Smokehouse, it was called "Worlds best Barbeque" in an article by Playboy magazine (yes I do read their articles). Once you've had it, you won't argue.

Columbia is nice, but I'd take 92 degree weather in a rain forest over 92 degree weather in Columbia. That humidity makes all the difference in the world! Someone once said Columbia must be SC's armpit:Q.

Seriously though, I'd live there. You're a few hours away from mountains, beaches, state aquarium, etc..

As for someone stating there aren't any good local computer shops there, just hop on up to Greenville (2 hour drive doing the speed limit) sometime and swing by "Computer Clinic", I'll take care of you.

Yep. Most people from my area (Charlotte) despise Columbia.

 

[Supermercado]

I live in Columbia. Personally, I don't really like it. Well, compared to Clemson, anyway. I just like this part of the state a lot better. I don't actually live in the city limits of Columbia (I actually live about 5 minutes from Old Two Notch (saw that someone mentioned that) out near Pontiac).

You mention movies and places to see them. I usually go to The Movies at Polo Road since it's so close to my house. Wynnsong is the only other I've been to, I think, out on Forest Drive. As far as malls, you've got a pretty good selection. The main ones are Columbiana Place (there's a LOT to do in this part of town), Columbia Place (formerly Columbia Mall - they just renamed it and of course made it sound simliar to Columbiana

), Dutch Square, and Richland Fashion Mall. I've never been to Dutch Square, but the others are just fine.

I don't like the temperature and humidity in Columbia. I've heard it called the armpit of the state before and I definitely agree with it. It's downright unpleasant in the summer. Once it's not as humid outside, it's just fine.

As for internet, I don't think DSL was available in my neighborhood (Spring Valley) when we moved in, so we got Roadrunner from Time Warner. We recently switched to Earthlink, also done by Time Warner. Speeds are good enough for me. The only thing I have to judge it on at the moment (seeing as how I don't live there but 4 months out of the year and I'm not there now) is pings in Counter-Strike. I could usually ping 25-45 depending on server, so it's plenty fine for gaming. There's no monthly cap as for how much you can download that I'm aware, if that's a concern.

Traffic all depends on where you live. Two Notch Rd. has a pretty good amount of traffic on it no matter where you are (once you get close enough to Pontiac, it's not bad at all - on the way to Lugoff and Elgin). Traffic is never absolutely horrendous downtown from what I've seen. The city does have more than its fair share of awful awful drivers, though. People run stoplights constantly, among other things.

All in all, it's not a bad place to live, I guess. If I had the choice, I wouldn't live there (and probably won't once I graduate and attempt to find a job). It's just too hot and humid for me. If you do end up moving to Columbia, though, I'd agree with the statement that someone made about living in Lugoff, Elgin, Blythewood, Cayce, etc. Close enough to make the short drive into town to do things but far enough away to not have to hassle with traffic, noise, etc.

 

[Tavis]

Thanks for all the great feedback everyone.. I wonder how the humidity there compares to the humidity in Jacksonville, Florida... Gets pretty humid here too.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

I lived in Columbia for three years as well... I still remember the giant palmetto bugs *shudder*.... and the fact that after six o'clock in the evening people don't let you walk in certain parts of town, if you happen to be white... Indeed, it's very much a college town, it would be dead without USC, the students are pouring lots of money into the economy.

And speaking of traffic, I'm amazed that nobody here mentioned the fact that there's a railway crossing one of the busiest boulevards (Main? I can't remember the name), and there's only freight cars, going sloooooow as molasses, and you have nasty traffic jams when that happens...

Also, I was there when it snowed, in 2000... man, these people don't know how to drive when it snows... that was one of the worst situations I've ever been in.

Otherwise, of course, don't expect much in terms of crowds. Columbia has what, about 250,000 people, which is nothing for a state capital, and there are exactly two places where you can go "out" during week-ends - the Five Points area and Art Bar, on Gervais St.

The best thing about Columbia was the college radio, it had some of the best progressive trance and drum/n/bass programs I've heard in a long time.

Hey, those of you living there... Does anyone know Bil Katt, the DJ? Or a guy named Fred Johnston? They're both into computers and music... I haven't heard of them in a good while.

 

[C'DaleRider]

I lived in Columbia for a couple of years during the mid-70's (apt. complex off Broad River Rd). I grew up in Augusta, GA, and Cola. was an hour away and I spent some time there during my years growing up. I've been back numerous times since, the latest being last month. Any place you live is what you make of it.....if you go in hating it, it'll be Hades to you, no matter what is there.

I've lived in towns so small the only traffic light was a flashing caution light and if you blinked you missed the town. I've lived in larger towns, too (Wash. DC, Tampa, FL, San Antonio, TX, Boston, MA among others). My take over time is the place is what you make of it. Cola. is close enough to the beach and mountains that almost any interest can be enjoyed with just a little "get yer butt out of the house".

Humidity......heck, you live in the South, you have humidity. It's the price you pay for not having to dig out from 5 ft. snowfalls during the winter. Cold there during winter is hitting 20 degrees for a couple of days. You can just about bicycle and motorcycle year-round.

It'll be fine.........not to worry.

 

[Tavis]

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
and the fact that after six o'clock in the evening people don't let you walk in certain parts of town, if you happen to be white....

What is this about?

 

[AnitaPeterson]

hmmm... there's a part of Columbia that's called Five Points, and if you follow one of the streets that intersect that area (damn it, I forgot the name of the street, but locals will know it, there's a Food Lion there) for about three blocks towards Two Notch, and you happen to be white, you'll be warned by black people not to go any further. It happened to me and my friends so many times, it's not even funny... in 1993, then in 1997, then in 1999...

 

[anno]

The best thing about Columbia was the college radio, it had some of the best progressive trance and drum/n/bass programs I've heard in a long time.

Hey, those of you living there... Does anyone know Bil Katt, the DJ? Or a guy named Fred Johnston? They're both into computers and music... I haven't heard of them in a good while.

my daughter has a show on WUSC now! but.. she plays showtunes. heh. college radio.. it's all about diversity! they're streaming again now, if you miss it, you can listen all you want.. wusc.

there's no way columbia is hotter or more humid than Jax, Tavis.. and.. it smells a lot better! and we have NO lovebugs. no armadillos either, more's the pity.. I kind of like armadillos. probably because I've never lived anywhere they do.

it's true "we" don't know how to drive in the snow (I grew up in southwestern virginia.. I know how to drive in the snow.. technically..).. but most of us that live here have enough sense to wait til it melts before we try and go somewhere!

there's a lot more to do downtown now than there was just a couple years ago.. the vista continues to revitalize, and they're working on main street now too. you know that old warehouse on the corner of huger and gervais? they're turning that into a publix! is going to be great for the students. and they're fixing to turn olympia mill into apartments. downtown is on the comeback.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Hi, anno, nice to hear all this is hapening.... although they've been promising to turn Olympia into apartments a long time ago - and I hope it won't end up like Whaley's Mill, that must be one of the strangest places I've seen in that city...