SxSE: Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia, SC
Photo by Perry McLeod flickr.com

The South by Southeast virtual road trip finally rolls into Columbia.  But we're not home yet, we're in the other Columbia, home of the other USC:  The South Carolina Gamecocks.

♦ Columbia, SC is the 12th closest SEC town to Columbia, MO, 871 miles away (715 air miles).  This of course qualifies South Carolina to be in the SEC East Division with Missouri.

♦ There is an active Columbia SC Chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association

♦ Fun Facts about Columbia, SC

• 2010 Population: 129,272 (metro area 767,598)
  
  
• Besides USC, Columbia is home to 10 other colleges.  Just like Columbia, MO, one of those institutions is called Columbia College.  It is a women's college, just like CoMo's Columbia College once was.
  
  
• Columbia is the home of the world's largest fire hydrant (40 feet tall).  It's one of several public art projects in the city by artist Blue Sky.  

Hootie and the Blowfish
USC alums

♦ We have a winner winner chicken dinner!  There are 13 Chik-fil-a locations in Columbia, SC

♦ HolyTurf.com's SEC Bucket List: Columbia, SC

#55 Rockaway's Pimento Cheeseburger: Rockaway’s Athletic Club is a place to frequent on your next trip to Columbia, SC, but make sure you know where you are going because the signage is not great and the place looks like a warehouse from the exterior. Plug in 2719 Rosewood Drive in your GPS and plan for fresh seafood, pimiento cheese fries, and great burgers. Rockaway’s has a nice, albeit not huge, patio too and plenty of televisions all around to keep an eye of action from the sports world.

Locals enjoy the famous pimiento cheeseburgers or the jalapeno burger with the pimiento cheese fries. If seafood is more of your thing, keep an eye out for the fresh shucked oysters and seasonal crab legs. If you are in the mood for a good burger and great atmosphere, Rockaway’s is the place to be in Columbia.

#67 Fiesta in Five Points: Named after the intersection of five streets, Five Points is one of the best downtown districts in the SEC, and it is the most popular drinking place for fans after Gamecock games. There are countless bars lining Five Points, most filled to capacity following a game.

No matter where you go and no matter what the outcome of the game was, at one point throughout the night you will hear a symphony. “What’s that,” you ask. Wait just a second. Then, you will hear the infamous banging of bass drums. The crowd will fall silent as the theme of 2001: A Space Odyssey crescendos. The crowd will go wild before chanting in unison “U-S-C! U-S-C! U-S-C!” If you are lucky enough to be in Five Points following a win over Clemson, you will also likely hear “S-E-C! S-E-C! S-E-C!”