Yet More Downtown Columbia, SC

[emerging.me]

It's Columbia, SC night! Here are some really nice black and white shots of Columbia by a local photographer named J. Christopher Matyjasik (sound it out?).

Since it's his living, I didn't want to straight-up post the guy's pics...

Here's the site.

Judging from the page name and the state of construction of the Meridian Building, these were taken in November '03.

Descriptions forthcoming...

[Spartan]

Those are some nice pics. I hate that bilboard bocking the DT view though....

[emerging.me]

Descriptions, if you're interested...

1. Columbia skyline from Meeting St./US-1 in Cayce.

2. Same, but closer and across the street.

3. What we're calling "Vista West" now in Cayce. It's turning into a funky arts district with a touch of bohemian flavor. Anchored by the New Brookland Tavern -- great place to see a live show and the Courtyard Coffeehouse (try the curry chicken sandwich).

4. Courtyard Coffeehouse.

5. Slyvan Bros. Jewelers building on Main Street. Note the "chainlink sculpture" between the buildings by artist Blue Sky.

6. Columbia Museum of Art on Main.

7. Former Kress dime store building on Main. Now it's Rising High (good meal and wi-fi internet). Loft apartments up.

8. Inside Rising High.

9. Lourie's -- Men's clothing. My dad still gets his suits there.

10. Artsy shot of Main & Taylor

11. This is a shot of Gervais St. in the Vista

12. Main St. at night. The lights stay in the trees year round.

13. Richland County Library, downtown.

14. Same.

15. Fuzzy skyline.

[emerging.me]

No kidding! Those billboards on Meeting/Gervais that block the skyline suck! We gotta get the city council to remove them. There was some talk of this at one point but I dunno whatever became of it.

[Spartan]

1.  Columbia skyline from Meeting St./US-1 in Cayce.

That's technically West Columbia.... You probably knew that though Cayce is accross the Blossom St Bridge, and W Cola is accross the Gervais St Bridge. The line basicly runs down the middle.

[Spartan]

No kidding! Those billboards on Meeting/Gervais that block the skyline suck! We gotta get the city council to remove them. There was some talk of this at one point but I dunno whatever became of it.

That and those power lines. That area has such great view, if it werent for all the trashy crap in the way. State St in W Cola would have the best view if it werent for that dilapidated old building on that corner of State and Augusta.

I guess the citizens of West Cola need to get on the ball with that.......

[emerging.me]

You're right! I grew up in West Columbia (more towards Lexington) and have just always thought of that area as Cayce. I'm sure you know, back in the day the area where "Vista West" is was called "New Brookland" -- I'm wondering if that moniker will eventually make a comeback since the area is growing now and is distinctly different from what I think most people think of as Cayce -- the Knox Abbott Drive area across the Blossom St. bridge... where Krispy Kreme is. Mmmm. -- and from what I think of as West Columbia (more towards I-26).

[Spartan]

New Brookland is much more distinctive to me. I never understood why they chenged it to West Columbia to start with. I know they wanted to identify more with Columbia to attract business or something... but still.

I think most people in Columbia call the otherside of the river Cayce. As I am not native to Columbia, I won't ever understand this. But my roomate is from Columbia- from the Shandon area- and he calls the whole area Cayce. Its baffling to me, but thats cool. I still know what you're talking about!

[emerging.me]

I agree New Brookland is distinctive. And "Vista West" is a tad bit cheesy if you ask me. I don't really care though, it's just nice to see the long-dormant area developing -- they could call it Pirateland.

[Spartan]

Yes. Was that created by marketeers or is it just a "coloqualism" that caught on?

Triangle City is very unique and distinctive to W Cola. I keep hearing that they are going to throw some money at it to try to make it a cool place to go like 5points or the Vista

[emerging.me]

"Vista West," I think, is something that just caught on. Although, West Columbia officials may be using it now.

Love Triangle City -- could be really neat with some improvements. Zestos is great!

Yeah, it's an interesting area over there. The boundaries are defined, but it's sort of muddled in people's perception I think. The whole Cayce/Knox Abbott/The Avenues/State Street/Triangle City/West Columbia/Jarvis Klapman Blvd. section -- some people just call all that Cayce. Don't know why.

My grandmother lived over there on what was called the Horseshoe Pond -- Mom grew up in the house just off of US-1. They filled in the pond and built a Family Mart (cheesy 80s retail) and a Bojangles. It's a big ugly building now where some print company has their offices. Heard from a friend in engineering that the whole place is sinking several inches a year. Maybe there will be a pond there again one day.

[emerging.me]

Looks like the official name is "New Brookland Historic District." Cool! The West Cola site has a few cool pics too -- worth checking out.

[emerging.me]

Nothing says "distinctive" like a giant ice cream cone.

^^^

Zestos in Triangle City

[monsoon]

[emerging.me]

Yeah, there is. The West Columbia Riverwalk is actually one of the coolest parts of the Three Rivers Greenway. Here's the River Alliance website where you can read more:

River Alliance

The West Columbia section has a park with a really nice walking trail along the bank, an few observation areas, kayak/canoe access, and a neat amphitheater.

[surface908]

It's Columbia, SC night! Here are some really nice black and white shots of Columbia by a local photographer named J. Christopher Matyjasik (sound it out?).

Since it's his living, I didn't want to straight-up post the guy's pics...

Here's the site.

Judging from the page name and the state of construction of the Meridian Building, these were taken in November '03.

Descriptions forthcoming...

wow! i'm quite flattered! thanks for the kind words about the shots. i'm a big fan of columbia, though i now live in atlanta for many reasons that it's just necessary. i just took some snapshots around town while there on a weekend visit. i took them for myself and put them up on my site to share with a few other columbians i talk to now and again. glad you guys came across and enjoyed. perhaps i'll make a serious effort to take some shots some weekend and post some more. and hey...if anyone wants a print or two...of course, i'll be glad to work something very reasonable out. columbians are good folk! surface908

[BryCola]

"Vista West," I think, is something that just caught on. Although, West Columbia officials may be using it now.

Love Triangle City -- could be really neat with some improvements. Zestos is great!

Yeah, it's an interesting area over there. The boundaries are defined, but it's sort of muddled in people's perception I think. The whole Cayce/Knox Abbott/The Avenues/State Street/Triangle City/West Columbia/Jarvis Klapman Blvd. section -- some people just call all that Cayce. Don't know why.

My grandmother lived over there on what was called the Horseshoe Pond -- Mom grew up in the house just off of US-1. They filled in the pond and built a Family Mart (cheesy 80s retail) and a Bojangles. It's a big ugly building now where some print company has their offices. Heard from a friend in engineering that the whole place is sinking several inches a year. Maybe there will be a pond there again one day.

Oh my lord emerging...I haven't heard the name "Horseshoe Pond" in 100 years. I had even forgotten about it. I grew up in West Columbia and I remember my Grandma talking about the Horseshoe Pond. I vaguely remember them filling it in way back then for the grocery store.

[waccamatt]

Nothing says "distinctive" like a giant ice cream cone.

^^^

Zestos in Triangle City

Quit making me hungry!