Best of Carolina 2013

As Gamecocks, life has No Limits.Brittany Walter, student

sc.edu/nolimits

She’s held human skulls, located body parts, worked in morgues, autopsy labs and at crime scenes. But Brittany Walter’s real curiosity is taking her far beyond the medical examiner’s office to places like an early Egyptian cemetery and an ancient Mediterranean gravesite in the land where King Midas is believed to have ruled. A doctoral student in biological anthropology, she analyzes ancient skeletal remains to diagnose breast cancer and other deadly diseases. By digging through the medical mysteries of the past, Brittany is uncovering the diagnostic tools of tomorrow.

A Supplement of


sc.edu/nolimits

She’s held human skulls, located body parts, worked in morgues, autopsy labs and at crime scenes. But Brittany Walter’s real curiosity is taking her far beyond the medical examiner’s o�ce to places like an early Egyptian cemetery and an ancient Mediterranean gravesite in the land where King Midas is believed to have ruled. A doctoral student in biological anthropology, she analyzes ancient skeletal remains to diagnose breast cancer and other deadly diseases. By digging through the medical mysteries of the past, Brittany is uncovering the diagnostic tools of tomorrow.

A Supplement of

46

CONTENTS

Introduction

On Campus

43574117 Food & Drink

RetailFor today’s stories

in news, the Mix, Viewpoints and

sports, check out dailygamecock.com.Services

Nick Nalbone / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Cover photo: Nick Nalbone / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

3

4

INTRODUCTIONNick Nalbone / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Welcome to The Daily Gamecock’s Best of Carolina 2013 special issue!

Thousands of you voted for your favorite restaurants, student services, on- and off-campus living, fraternities and sororities and plenty of other categories for top-notch services around the capital city.

The votes have been tallied, and the special edition of our newspaper you have in your hands contains reviews of the various establishments, services and attractions you named the very best Columbia has to offer.

The owners and managers of these businesses have weighed in on the reasons for their success, and from Mellow Mushroom’s pizza to Brittons men’s clothing, from Village Idiot’s trivia night to Cool Beans’ coffee, you told us where to go for the things you need around campus.

So enjoy! Flip through, read up on the offerings of each organization and then get out and see the Best of Carolina.

And don’t forget to visit dailygamecock.com for all of today’s regular stories in news, the Mix, Viewpoints and sports.

Dear readers,

Kristyn Sanito, Editor-in-Chief

42

ON CAMPUS

7


7

Best Study Service

ACE8

Academic Centers for Excellence, an office within the Student Success Center, has been voted the best study service provided on USC’s campus.

ACE is a comprehensive service that focuses on the student’s needs first, according to coordinator Jaime Shook.

The program provides services ranging from tutoring to coaching on time management and study skills.

“We really work with students to understand where they are, to assess themselves and then improve in any areas that they choose to improve in,” Shook said. “We help empower them to find their own goals and strategically achieve them.”

According to Shook, ACE coaches are the reason the service was chosen by readers as Carolina’s best, since it all starts with the interaction between them and the students.

“I think the relationship that the students get to build with the coach is so powerful,” she said. “We have a lot of students who benefit from getting to know someone on campus

who genuinely cares about them and wants them to be successful within and beyond the classroom. I think that’s a key to the work that we do.”

ACE had more than 1,000 student visits in Fall 2012, handled by a staff of 20 coaches — two professional staff members and 18 graduate students, according to Shook. Each appointment is an hour long, another factor Shook attributes to what makes ACE stand out as a committed study service.

“To have a full hour dedicated to you and what you want to do, that’s valuable time,” Shook said.

She said ACE will continue to work to help students and earn the designation as Best of Carolina for the second year running.

“Any way that we can get our students to define their success and achieve it, that is what a coach is going to do with them,” she said.

ACE locations can be found in Bates House, Columbia Hall, Sims House and the Thomas Cooper Library.

Sydney [email protected]

Bates House, Columbia Hall, Sims House & Thomas Cooperhousing.sc.edu/ace803-777-5430

Nathan Leach / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

40

Best On-Campus Eats

COLLOQUIUM CAFE9

Colloquium has done it again. The cafe, known for sandwiches, salads and soup, is a long-time favorite for students and faculty on the east side of campus, and it’s won the award for best eats four years running. In between Gambrell Hall and the Welsh Humanities Classroom Building, it’s a convenient lunch stop when Russell House is a little too far away and you know you don’t really want Chick-fil-A for the fifth time this week.

Tear into a bread bowl of chicken and wild rice soup for a warm lunch to get you through dreary winter weather. Try a portobello panini with a side of fruit for a lighter lunch than most of what you’ll find on campus. It’s a little more expensive compared to some other campus dining options, but it’s tasty enough to justify going a couple of dollars over a meal plan.

Andie Romness, Lindsey Lane and Emily Bollinger, who all play

on USC’s soccer team, said they usually eat at Colloquium Cafe several times a week.

“I usually get a turkey panini with a side of fruit,” said Romness, a second-year business student.

If you haven’t worked up an appetite yet, there’s also fresh-brewed Starbucks coffee. But be sure to think ahead if a late night has left you pining for a pumpkin spice latte; as anyone with a class before noon knows, the line for coffee can wrap all the way through the cafe.

“It’s definitely one of my favorite places on campus,” said Lane, a first-year exercise science student.

Weekly lunch menus and dining schedules can be found on Carolina Dining’s website, sc.edu/dining.

In between Gambrell Hall & the Welsh Humanities Classroom Building

Monday – Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Friday 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Sarah [email protected]

Erin Burke / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Since its renovation in 2011, Patterson Hall has been the premier housing unit on USC’s campus. And although the University Housing department is quick to acknowledge other residence halls on campus, the Carolina Community has clarified for the second year in a row that Patterson is the cream of the crop.

“Patterson Hall is one of the many gems on the University of South Carolina campus,” said Kirsten Kennedy, executive director of Housing. “However, if you look back in the not-so-distant past, we have residence halls like Honors Residence

(Hall) and West (Green) Quad that are in high demand. They highlight many of the features that you find in Patterson Hall.”

The nine-floor, all-female hall on Bull Street was built in 1962. It reopened in August 2011 and features space for 544 beds and suitestyle units with just about every amenity avai lable to i ts residents , including two smart classrooms.

“Patterson Hall provides an environment for student living that fosters learning,” Kennedy said. “It also provides a more modern landscape for socialization and interaction with peers.”

With other projects on the

horizon, such as the upcoming renovation to the residence halls of the women’s quad this spring, Kennedy said the department would look to Patterson as the standard of success. But while improvements make the individual hall look nicer, the real impact is on the university itself.

“[University Housing has] a lot of pride in Patterson Hall, and it is a showpiece for residential housing on campus,” Kennedy said. “However, it is important to look at the impact these projects have to the university, as a whole, and not just to University Housing.”

9

Best On-Campus Housing

PATTERSON HALL10


Chris [email protected]

11

Best Fraternity

BETA THETA PI12

In the four years since Beta Theta Pi recolonized at USC, the chapter has won the award for best fraternity of South Carolina twice.

Nathan Ewoldt, president of USC’s Beta Theta Pi chapter of about 60 members, said the win stems from the fraternity’s dedicated involvement on campus and throughout the capital city.

“Our continued commitment to stay engaged in the Carolina community makes many of our members recognizable as leaders on campus,” Ewoldt said.

Members are required to maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average to join the fraternity, which takes on several significant community service projects each semester.

As to why students have

voted the chapter as the best fraternity on campus for two years running, Ewoldt also credited the brotherhood’s main focus on the values of its members, as Beta Theta Pi’s mission is “to build men of principle for a principled life.”

“I believe Beta offers a very unique Greek experience,” h e s a i d . “ We n o t o n l y offer all the typical Greek benef i t s — brotherhood, leadership development, social involvement. We take it a step further and develop our members into principled men.”

Beta Theta Pi holds an annual Men of Honor banquet, and the most esteemed level of recognition is awarded to a non-Greek member who “lives the fraternity’s values.”

@SC_Beta



36

Best Sorority

KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA13

Kappa Kappa Gamma has been awarded the best sorority at USC for the first time this year.

USC’s girls in blue (and blue) have set the bar for academic achievement among sororities for the past two semesters, as their chapter GPA is equal to the Sorority Life average.

While the chapter has nearly 300 members, the o rgan i za t ion s t r i ve s to establish a close-knit group of young women on campus.

“Kappa is made up of 285 beautiful women who aren’t afraid to be themselves. We have girls from all different walks of life that attribute to our wonderful sisterhood,” President Jamie Gardner said. “Because of this, our members share a bond that is stronger than I can even explain.”

Members a l so become closer through participation in smaller groups within the chapter such as faith studies, intramural sports teams and “families” of big and little sisters.

The sorority also performed more than 3,700 service hours

and raised nearly $6,500 for various charities in the fall, including Girls on the Run and Kappa’s international philanthropic cause, Reading Is Fundamental.

“Through RIF we have been able to partner with local elementary schools to provide children with their own books through book drives and an opportunity to read with many of our sisters on a weekly basis,” Gardner said.

N e a r l y a l l o f K a p p a Kappa Gamma’s members are involved in campus organizations outside of their sorority and have a strong presence in USC Fraternity and Sorority Life, with member Riley Shipman currently serving as president of Sorority Council after serving as vice president of scholarship last year.

Kappa Kappa Gamma was also awarded the Chapter Award for Excellence, Silver Achievement by USC for the fall semester.

@epsilonKKG



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Best Campus Bookstore

ADDAM’S UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE14

A d d a m ’s U n i v e r s i t y Bookstore , located on the corner of Assembly and Flora streets , has once again been voted the best bookstore on campus.

Michael Scheele , the text d e p a r t m e n t m a n a g e r a t Addam’s for the past fi ve years, says his store goes above and beyond when it comes to fi nding textbooks for students, which is why Gamecocks have officially preferred Addam’s over other campus bookstores around town for three years running.

“We make it a point that our No. 1 focus is customer service,” Scheele said. “If we don’t have something and we have to call around the whole state, we will do whatever we can just to help the customer.”

Being the best also helps if prices are lower. Scheele says that “nine times out of 10,” Addam’s book costs are more affordable than those

of competing bookstores. According to Scheele, this is because Addam’s is a part of the Follett Corporation , the largest used textbook company in the nation . Follett has more than 800 textbook stores across the country, allowing for a better variety of used textbooks.

Accord ing to Schee le , Addam’s was once the primary on-campus loca t ion fo r students to find textbooks, but the university has since then established a separate bookstore in the student union.

However, judging by the Best of Carolina results over the past three years, Addam’s University Bookstore still appears to be the fi rst choice for students in the Carolina community.

152 S. Assembly St.Monday – Friday

8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday: noon – 5 p.m.803-544-9900

Kyle [email protected]


Show us your

pose

34

Wednesday, February 20Men’s Basketball vs. Ole Miss - 7pm

Friday, February 22Baseball vs. Albany - 3pm

Saturday, February 23Women’s Tennis vs. College of Charleston - 10:30amEquestrian vs. Texas A&M - 1pmBaseball vs. Albany - 1:30pmWomen’s Tennis vs. Charleston Southern - 4pm

Sunday, February 24Baseball vs. Albany - 1:30Women’s Basketball vs. Mississippi State - 3pm

Tuesday, February 26Baseball vs. Furman - 4pm

Thursday, February 28Men’s Basketball vs. Missouri - 9pm

Friday, March 1Equestrian vs. Delaware State - 1pmMen’s Tennis vs. Texas A&M - 5pm

Sunday, March 3Women’s Basketball vs. Florida - 1pmMen’s Tennis vs. Clemson - 1pmBaseball vs. Clemson - 3pm

32

17

FOOD/DRINK

17

Best Sandwich

GROUCHO’S DELI18

It must be the sauce.The flagship Groucho’s Deli first

opened its door in Columbia more than 70 years ago, plating a variety of salads and fresh sub sandwiches loaded up with quality meats, cheeses and, of course, its signature “Formula 45” sauce. Since then, the deli has been painting the state in 45, with 21 locations dotted up and down South Carolina and two more just over the border in North Carolina. Groucho’s may have grown from a small-town sandwich shop to a thriving franchise, but the deli hasn’t forgotten its roots; it still lives by the same homemade recipes that made it a local favorite, making Groucho’s the best sandwich winner for the fourth year in a row.

“We’ve been serving trademark subs and salads since 1941,” current owner Bruce Miller said, “all with Groucho’s famous 45 sauce.”

The original Groucho’s Deli, on Harden Street in Five Points, is a landmark eatery in Columbia, drawing in a steady stream of college, business and family patrons for lunch. Diners can relax in the casual, welcoming atmosphere and indulge in a number of specialty sub

sandwiches like the Apollo Dipper with hot melts of ham, Swiss cheese and turkey with 45 sauce; the STP dipper topped with roast beef, turkey, Swiss, bacon crumbs and 45; or plainer “moose” sandwiches with your choice of turkey, ham or beef with provolone cheese and lettuce (did we mention the sauce?). Salads are also available for the green eater.

Groucho’s subs are a cure-all for almost every USC student woe: heartbreaks, all-nighters and empty stomachs, but more importantly, the hangover. These deli delights have been softening the pounding in your head for some time now, promising a well-made sub to soak up last night’s shame.

“Groucho’s is always my choice,” Atlas Road Crew guitarist Dave Beddingfield said. “It’s been curing all my Five Points hangovers since 1941.”

Mary Cathryn [email protected]

611 Harden St. Monday – Saturday

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.803-799-5708grouchos.com

Kristina Josue / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

30

If you’re looking for good, clean fun in Columbia, nothing tops Jillian’s on Gervais Street in the Vista for this new Best of Carolian category. Shag nights on Thursdays are a favorite among students, with beginners and veteran shaggers alike dancing the night away to classics like “Sweet Caroline” and “Brown-Eyed Girl.”

But even if South Carolina’s state dance isn’t for you, Shag in the Shack is not all that Jillian’s has to offer. Trivia nights every Wednesday include food and drink specials, half-priced pool and a chance to win $100 in cash.

The menu at Jillian’s features classic bar food like burgers, nachos , chicken wings and quesadillas, but if you’re looking for something a little fancier, treat yourself to the apple whiskey–glazed salmon or grilled lemon chicken pasta, all for a reasonable price. Decadent dessert options

include “killer” chocolate cake and caramel cheesecake. If you’re in the mood for a show, local bands play at Jillian’s on Friday nights and some Saturdays, although bigger bands make an occasional appearance at events like Fall-Out, an outdoor concert this October that featured Saving Abel and Weaving the Fate. For fighting fans, Jillian’s also hosts UFC viewing parties some Saturday nights.

Open until midnight during weeknights and until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Jillian’s invites you to eat, drink and play. Look no further for a casual night out any day of the week.

Best Good Clean Fun

JILLIAN’S19

Paulina [email protected]

800 Gervais St.Monday – Thursday

11:30 a.m. – midnight Friday & Saturday

11:30 a.m. – 2 a.m. jillianscolumbia.com803-779-7789

File Photo

19

California Dreaming, located on Main Street about five blocks from USC’s Horseshoe, is a bit more upscale than other restaurants close to campus, and readers have voted it the best p l a ce to c e l ebra t e s p e c i a l o c c a s i o n s , whether with parents or a date, for four years in a row.

“We have a very intimate setting here,” manager Aric Oostra s a i d . “ D u r i n g t h e daylight hours, you can come and marvel at the history of the building with amazing woodwork and high ceilings, and in the evening you can relax with that perfect glass of wine while enjoying the glow of our candle-lit tables.”

According to Oostra, atmosphere, as well as exceptional food and drinks, are prime factors in California Dreaming’s popularity, p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h students and parents. The restaurant on Main Street has been restored from what was once Union Station built in 1902 — home of the Southern Railway and Atlantic Coast Line.

“ A l t h o u g h t h e y don’t operate out of Columbia anymore, you can still see the trains go by from the old platform that has since

been converted into one of our dining areas,” Oos t r a s a id . “The architecture creates the perfect setting for an exceptional dining experience.”

California Dreaming offers a wide variety o f m e n u o p t i o n s t h a t a r e c u s t o m e r favorites. Oostra says the restaurant’s salads are popular for lunch, while steaks and ribs are enjoyed any time of the day. The famous nachos, Tijuana chicken w i n g s a n d h a n d -breaded onion ring loaf are some California D r e a m i n g ’s m o r e popular appetizers.

“We have a lot to offer as a restaurant that many places in town do not,” Oostra said. “Along with our historical setting, we offer a private dining room that will seat up to 50 guests and a catering service.”

A n o t h e r c o v e t e d amen i ty Ca l i fo rn i a Dreaming offers that can rarely be found a t o t h e r h i g h - e n d counterparts in the Vista: a parking lot free of charge.

Best Date Spot & Restaurant to Take Your Parents

CALIFORNIA DREAMING20

Kristyn [email protected]

401 Main St. Sunday – Thursday

11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday & Saturday

11 a.m. – 11 p.m. 803-254-6767californiadreaming.co


28

Local favorite Cool Beans has been chosen as Columbia’s best coffee shop for the second year in a row. The cozy cafe, which actually shares a renovated house with College Grounds Cafe, offers a wide variety of different coffee blends, including fair-trade batches. Different coffee- and espresso-based drinks abound, and the shop also offers teas and non-coffee treats as well.

“The Perfect Man and Perfect Woman are always popular choices,” said manager Taylor Weller, a fourth-year media arts student.

Weller also noted that Cool Beans’ prices are often slightly lower than both local competitors and larger chains. The shop also stays open until midnight every night; that’s the latest any coffee shop in Columbia stays open, according to Weller.

While some patrons might just need a caffeine fix, others stay for a snack, a dessert or even a full meal if they choose.

Cool Beans offers a wide variety of sandwiches, wraps, paninis and salads that includes many vegetarian and vegan options.

“Our black bean wrap and

hummus wrap are probably the most popular,” Weller said.

But it’s not just the food and drinks that draw customers in; Weller said the shop’s “freaking awesome” atmosphere also attracts students.

“We have a homey aspect; a lot of kids can come in and just feel at ease,” she said.

Cool Beans features multiple rooms with a variety of seating options, from traditional tables and chairs to armchairs. Each room is slightly separated, creating a cozy environment for socializing, studying or playing one of the many board games on the shop’s second floor.

It’s also within walking distance of campus, located on College Street, just across the street from the Horseshoe and next to the James F. Byrnes Building.

Best Coffee Shop

COOL BEANS21

1217 College St. Monday – Friday

7 a.m. – midnight Saturday & Sunday

9 a.m. – midnight803-779-4277coolbeanscoffeecompany.com

Austin Price / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Amanda [email protected]

BEST OF

21

Best Pizza

Best Meal Deal

MELLOW MUSHROOM

MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL

22

Voted as the best pizza in town for four years running, Mellow Mushroom in the Vista serves up specialty pies or lets you pick your own. With options for every taste, including vegetarian and gluten-free items, this Columbia hot spot provides a sports bar atmosphere with unusual mushroom-centered décor.

Kosmic Karma, Magical Mystery Tour, Thai Dye and Mellowterranean are just a few of the creative names you’ll find on the menu. But classics like Mighty Meat and Mega-Veggie speak for themselves.

Not in the mood for a pizza? The house calzone is a personal favorite, combining spinach, mushrooms, Roma tomatoes and mozzarella cheese in a delicious dough and served with a side of red sauce. The calzones are perfect for sharing, or at least for taking leftovers home.

Mellow Mushroom also offers a variety of hoagies, from sausage or Italian to tofu or

avocado. For the health buffs, there are five salad options with 10 dressings, as well as the option to build your own. At the bar, a wide range of brews is always on tap, and Mellow Mushroom prides itself on partnerships with local breweries.

With three sizes depending on how many people you’re sharing with, Mellow Mushroom is the perfect location for a casual date or a group night out, especially at Wednesday trivia nights at the Gervais Street location. But it’s open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.


1009 Gervais St. Monday – Wednesday

11 a.m. – 10 p.m.Thursday: 11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.Friday & Saturday

11 am. – midnight Sunday: noon – 9 p.m.803-933-9201

You’re always “welcome to Moe’s,” but Mondays are just a little more inviting.

With a catchy name and equally intriguing offer, it’s no surprise that Moe Monday often attracts a USC crowd so large that the line stretches out the door.

Moe’s Southwest Grill’s special of $5.55 for any burrito, drink and chips and salsa on Mondays was voted the best meal deal for the second year in a row by The Daily Gamecock’s readers. A popular choice for penny-wise college students looking for a meal that’s not in the Russell

House, Moe Monday offers the balance between being tasty and affordable.

Moe ’s bur r i to s a r e a l so

accommodating for every taste. Customers can choose their own ingredients and make their burrito vegetarian, calorie-

conscious or sinfully delicious. Chips, salsa and a drink come in the meal special, though for an extra charge, queso dip can come with the chips for a warm, spicy and creamy kick.

The drink options would make a soda enthusiast wide-eyed. With a new, state-of-the-art Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, patrons can combine their favorite fruit flavors with their sodas.

625 Main St. 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.803-256-9663@Moes_Columbia

Isabelle [email protected]



26

ACROSS1 President knownas “Big Bill”5 Beat it10 Shady growth14 Jamaicantangelo15 Stag16 Wheelset piece17 Fine print inYogi’scontract?19 “Swell!”20 Body in a belt21 Abby andMartha, toMortimer, in“Arsenic and OldLace”22 Exemptattachment?23 Tab, for one25 Courtallegationsrequiringconsideration?32 Clip33 A lot of nothing34 Many a ’50s-’60spop act35 Fine cotton36 Moving aid38 Douglas andFraser39 Medium power?40 Showenthusiasm41 Hershey’s rawmaterial42 Product liabilityproblems forWilly Wonka?46 Biblical middlechild47 Jamaican spirits48 Thin51 Get the most outof56 America’s fi rstmartyred spy57 Vague religiouslaw?59 Elects60 Sat rocking, say61 Ivory Coastneighbor62 New Mexicoresort63 Spanishfi lmmakerAlmodóvar64 Hardly at allDOWN1 Big band wind

2 Gets along inyears3 Place to take 27-Down4 Turnpike roller5 Oater joint6 Lament7 More than justeye-catching,clotheswise8 Good tennisreturns9 Where to startplaying a round10 Guide11 Team with a lot ofpull?12 Blind section13 Directors’ milieus18 Exclaimed21 Range in sevencountries23 DNA shape24 Singular25 Silly26 A conductor setsit27 See 3-Down28 Firth or fjord29 Proclamation30 Subtle qualities31 Not too hot32 What housesmay be built on36 Valley37 Like the lenses

on some grannyglasses38 Considerably40 Courtroomcover-up41 Book withdrawings43 Tender touch44 Test-taking tip?45 Prom dress48 Tavern measure49 Senior Smurf50 Chorus line51 Bread concern52 49-Down’spartner

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Best Take-Out & Late-Night Eats

Best Delivery

COOK-OUT

Jimmy John’s

26

If it’s 2 a.m. — or 3, or 4 — and you’re hungry, do you really have a choice?

You’re going to Cook-Out, where a quesadilla is considered a side and the hours are flexible for even the latest of nights.

It’s open until 4 a.m. most nights and 5 a.m. on weekends. Find Cook-Out closed, and you should probably just go to bed.

Plus, it’s cheap. The Cook-Out tray, that favorite of combos and a runner-up in the Best of Carolina meal special category, will run you $4.25 for an entree, like a burger, hot dogs or a chicken sandwich; your pick of two sides, including hush puppies, a quesadilla or a corn dog, among others; and a drink.

And have you had their milkshakes? You won’t find a more expansive list in this city, and you’d better believe no one else is serving up blueberry cheesecake, pineapple or peanut butter fudge shakes — or any combination of the 40 or so flavors listed on

the menu.So it’s really no wonder that Cook-Out

was named USC’s top choice for take-out and late-night eats for the first time this year.

Cook-Out is to Five Points what a light is to moths. It’s changed the way Columbia eats in the wee hours of the morning, and it’s done it in a little more than a year.

Seriously — go check it out on Google Street View. All you’ll see there is a plot of earth.

These days, you’ll see early-morning lines, burgers and barbecue “cooked outdoors style” and two drive-thru lines connected by an overhead conveyor belt. That’s just cool, no matter what state of mind you’re in.

1109 Harden St.Sunday – Thursday

11 a.m. – 4 a.m.Friday & Saturday

11 a.m. – 5 a.m.

Jimmy John’s “worldwide sandwich empire” was built on a foundation of simple gourmet sandwiches and is maintained by its famously speedy delivery, voted the best by readers for the second year in a row. With four locations in Columbia, this somewhat unconventional sub shop caters to USC students from Gervais Street to Harbison Boulevard and everywhere in between.

Jimmy John’s has built its menu from a range of ingredients and add-ons as eclectic as the names given to its sandwiches. Headlining its 8-inch sub list is the Pepe, followed later by

the Turkey Tom, and on the giant club sandwiches list is a collection of

meals that are namesakes of various clubs in the non-edible sense, such as Italian Night Club and the Country Club.

Jimmy John’s goes above and beyond the traditional sub shop in more ways than just creativity, offering an array of catering options and healthier repasts such as the JJ Unwich lettuce wrap.

Students keep coming back to Jimmy John’s whether it’s because they don’t feel like leaving the residence hall to get their lunch and would rather have it brought to them, or they might just craving a JJ Gargantuan. And if it’s not the delicious subs or rapid service that

makes USC students pick up the phone, it could be the Jimmy John’s promise to “add to students’ GPA and general dating ability” that does the trick. Either way, Jimmy John’s has established itself as the go-to delivery spot for the Gamecocks.

Thad [email protected]

Danny [email protected]

Five Points at 2015 Devine St.10:30 a.m. – 3 a.m.

803-806-8282

Vista at 715 Gervais St. 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

803-933-9595

Matt DeMarco / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Parker Jennette / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

NEWWINNER

If you’ve been to the Vista, you’ve probably seen the place on Gervais Street with twinkling lights wrapped around its columns and the painted gold and burgundy sign.

Nonnah’s, selected by readers as Columbia’s best dessert for four years in a row, clearly isn’t new to success.

“People love the atmosphere and the food,” said Maggie Groff, owner for 16 years. “Bananas foster and chocolate temptation are probably the two favorites.”

And tempting they are: Imagine flaming rum over bananas carmelized in brown sugar and butter sauce served with ice cream, or spongy chocolate cake layered with vanilla cream topped with a rich chocolate ganache, and it’s easy to see why these delectable treats draw in the crowds.

“The Oreo (cookie) cheesecake is my

favorite,” said Maggie Castles, a third-year USC Spanish student. “And I love the dim lighting and atmosphere.”

Few other restaurants include a gallery adjacent to the restaurant, adding to the artsy vibes that customers love. The late hours allow for an influx of romantic moviegoers, sweet-toothed theater attendees and your average up-late college student. You might be better off splitting one of these multilayered beauties with a friend, but you certainly won’t leave with an empty stomach.

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Best DessertNONNAH’S

27

Andersen [email protected]

930 Gervais St. Monday – Thursday

11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. / 5 – 11 p.m. Friday

11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. / 5 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.Saturday

6 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.803-779-9599nonnahs.com

Parker Jennette / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

With high sloped ceilings, plush leather furniture, polished high-top tables and glowing televisions illuminating almost every corner of the bar, World of Beer has all of the features of a lush space infused with comfortable style. But if you’re one of the establ ishment’s regulars, only one feature draws your eye’s gaze: the beer.

The new winner of Columbia’s best beer selection had its anniversary in December at its Vista location, celebrating a yearlong campaign for true beer culture in the capital city. Unlike many local bars that only carry a couple imports among their slew of domestic brews (Bud Light, anyone?), connoisseurs of craft ales can choose from a countless specialty beers to expand their hoppy horizons.

WOB houses a constantly rotating menu of more than 50 draft beers, not to mention

an extensive bottled list. The breweries range from local outfits to international companies, offering plenty of opportunities to taste the boundaries on your pale ale, stout, lager or pilsner

palettes.“Our main focus is to always

keep things fresh, particularly when it comes to the draft beer,” said Dan Albert, WOB’s general manager. “We typically order

one to two kegs of each draft selection so we can put new things out. We do things like last calls and loyalty points for members to push items and keep it moving.”

Albert said that although WOB keeps about 600 items stocked at all times, it tries to keep as much local beer in house and on sale as possible. And as far as sales go, local brews are top of the glass.

“Our local beers are very strong sellers here,” he said. “More often than not when we look at sales, they’re our top 10 items. It really shows how much people support the local movement.”

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Brian Almond / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Best Mexican Restaurant

Best Beer Selection

MONTERREY MEXICAN RESTAURANT

WORLD OF BEER

28

Voted best Mexican restaurant in the Free Times Readers Poll in years past, Monterrey Mexican Restaurant is no stranger to topping the charts, and Best of Carolina’s new Mexican restaurant category is no exception. Located on Senate Street in the Vista, Monterrey’s manages to maintain a quaint, yet open cantina feel while residing just a few blocks from the Statehouse.

Classic Mexican dishes abound, from chips and queso to chimichangas. Monterrey’s adds

its own unique meals as well, like the Pollo Monterrey, which includes hefty servings of beans, rice, grilled chicken in sauce, grilled shrimp, pico de gallo and avocado (and four tortillas, should you feel bold enough to try and make it all fit).

Not only are the portions as large and filling as we’ve come to expect from the best Mexican restaurants, but they won’t cost you un brazo y una pierna (an arm and a leg), either. The average dish comes in at less than $10, and lunch specials are between $5 and $6 per

entrée. With a happy hour lasting until 8 p.m., an inexpensive drink with your inexpensive feast puts the icing on your South of the Border cake.

Ryan [email protected]

Mary Cathryn [email protected]

931 Senate St. Monday – Thursday

11 a.m. – 10 p.m.Friday: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday & Sunday

11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. 803-765-1465

902 Gervais St. Monday – Friday

3 p.m. – 2 a.m. Friday & Sunday

noon – 2 a.m. 803-256-1126

NEWWINNER

If someone were to walk past the Salty Nut Cafe in the middle of the night on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, he or she would no doubt notice a bustling crowd of college students on the front porch of the venue behind the restaurant.

Appropriately named after the famous phychological study, Pavlov’s is the place for college students to go whenever their mouths start watering for beer.

It really isn’t hard to see why Pavlov’s has been considered the best bar by USC students for three years running, as it has the three aspects a college student looks for when choosing

such an establishment: great location, cheap alcohol and a lively atmosphere. All of the surrounding bars in the Five Points area may have only one or two of these contributing factors, but Pavlov’s has it all.

At the heart of the nighttime scene, Pavlov’s is easily within walking distance from campus. Upon arrival, students can enjoy a full bar, where liquor is as cheap as just $1 and a single beer only costs $3. You would even have the likely chance to run into some of your friends.

20

Best Bar

PAVLOV’S29

2000 Greene St.@PavlovsBar

Tyler [email protected]

File Photo

CAROLINA 2012

The Carolina community has awarded the best trivia night to Village Idiot Pizza and Pub for the second year running, but this year the restaurant has also been voted as having the best happy hour.

“We are a traditional pizzeria that specializes in great pizza, wings and beer,” owner Kelly Glynn said. “What every college student wants!”

Best known for its New York–style pizza, by the slice or by the pie, Village Idiot hosts three rounds of live trivia for patrons 21 and up every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., according to Glynn. While the topics vary from week to week, trivia categories primarily include questions on current events and general knowledge.

Teams can include as few or as many members as desired, and gift cards to the establishment are awarded to teams that come

in first, second and third place, as well as to the team with the most original name that night. Trivia rounds include six questions — two worth five points, two worth 10 and two worth 15.

“We also host charity percent nights in conjunction with trivia,” Glynn said. “So we let the charity provide questions about their organization as well.”

Food and drink specials on trivia nights include $1 off all beer and $2 off whole pizzas.

Happy Hour at Village Idiot is held Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. According to Glynn, all alcohol is discounted, but specific specials include $5.50 Bud Light pitchers, $2 house liquor, $5 appetizers and $1 slices of cheese pizza.

“We have a wide demographic with some nights being geared more toward college nights,” Glynn said. “So the majority (of diners) are students, but we also have young professionals and families.”

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Best Happy Hour & Trivia

VILLAGE IDIOT30

Kristyn [email protected]

2009 Devine St. Tuesday – Saturday

11:30 a.m. – 2 a.m. Sunday & Monday

11:30 a.m. – midnight

[email protected]


dailygamecock.com

NEWWINNER

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18

Columbia’s seen a good bit of culinary innovation in the past few years, but sometimes you’d rather just have a burger.

Have your cake and eat it too, dear readers: Pawleys Front Porch, your favorite restaurant this year, happens to have the city’s best burger, too.

Branch out with the Edisto, which is topped with grape jelly caramelized onions and goat cheese, or the Beaufort, with onion rings, ham, cheddar and a fried egg.

Or play it safe with the Front Porch, a simple burger, in the traditional sense.

You can’t go wrong — every patty is made by hand with freshly ground Angus chuck roast.

Perhaps you’d prefer mahimahi tacos or a salad, or maybe you want to start off with fried green tomatoes, fried crawfish tails or hand-cut fries. In any case, Pawleys of Five Points has you covered

with, appropriately, a porch out front, a bar inside and daily specials.

You can also find Pawleys at a second location in Mount Pleasant and its food truck, with a pared-down menu, throughout Columbia. Check out where the truck is on Twitter @PFP_FoodTruck.

Best Overall Restaurant & Burger

PAWLEYS FRONT PORCH31


827 Harden St. Sunday & Monday

11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. Thursday – Saturday

11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. 803-771-8001pawleysfrontporch.com@Pawleys5Pts@PFP_FoodTruck

Thad [email protected]

NEWWINNER

BEST OF

33

Best Barbecue

Best Dance Spot

PALMETTO PIG

RED HOT TOMATOES

32

Hidden on a side street with no flashy sign, Palmetto Pig Barbecue Restaurant is a delicious local secret.

With service as sweet as its tea and a tasty variety of barbecue, Palmetto Pig was voted as the best barbecue for the first time this year by The Daily Gamecock’s readership. In a diverse city with a diverse campus, its three variations of barbecue sauce offer something for every pulled pork lover.

Located on Devine Street, off Huger Street, patrons are more likely to hear about the Columbia staple than to just stumble upon it. Walking distance from Carolina Stadium, it’s

adorned with Gamecock paraphernalia, as well as an assortment of pigs throughout.

The service is delightful and friendly, and a pitcher of sweet tea sits full on each table. Two longer tables can seat larger groups of customers or several smaller groups. For lunch, the crowd is mostly a professional one looking for Southern comfort during a work break.

Palmetto Pig doesn’t alienate those opposed to mustard-based barbecue, additionally offering an original barbecue sauce that’s ketchup-based and a vinegar barbecue for fans of the North Carolinian style.

A classic pulled pork sandwich platter comes with your sauce of choice, a side and hush puppies. The kind service offers extras of

anything when it brings you the meal in swift fashion. The sandwiches start at $4.99.

In addition to other barbecue platter options, students with valid identification can get a discount on the buffet, which has fried chicken, rice, collard greens, macaroni and cheese and other Southern delicacies, all for $9.95.

Isabelle [email protected]

530 Devine St.

Tuesday & Wednesday11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Saturday11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

803-733-2556palmettopig.com

Whether they’re hitting the town on a Friday night or just looking for a place to catch the game, USC students have made Red Hot Tomatoes the spot to hang out for anyone interested in having a good time.

Owning the title of the largest bar in Five Points, Red Hot’s has three bars across two floors and plenty of televisions and pool tables to boot. This establishment boasts experienced bartenders who serve up “unbeatable” drink specials, along with a crowd of waitresses armed with Jell-O shots that always seem to be there when you need them most.

Younger than 21 but don’t want to miss out on the fun? Red Hot’s isn’t one to exclude, holding regular 18-and-over nights to accommodate all fun-loving Gamecocks. Looking for something a little more intimate

or need a place to host your next fundraising event? The self-proclaimed “best bar in Five Points” is available for private parties and VIP events as well.

As the winner in the best dance spot category for the fourth year running, the bar makes its reputation on the hardwood, with an upstairs dance floor complete with two adjacent VIP rooms and a raised DJ stage that regularly features local up-and-coming acts.

Hitting Red Hot Tomatoes on a weekend, you’re likely to see “that girl” from your biology class or maybe even a football player or two, as the bar has made itself famous for one of the best atmospheres in Five Points for all Carolina students.

Danny [email protected]

632 Harden St. 803-466-5566redhottomatoesbar.com


NEWWINNER

16

Best SushiTSUNAMI

33

Located in the heart of the Vista on Gervais Street, Tsunami has, for the fourth year in a row, been voted as the best place in town to get your sushi fix when USC’s stale excuse for Japanese cuisine doesn’t quite cut it.

Unlike other sushi restaurants in Columbia, Tsunami sets itself apart with modern, chic and classy flair. From the tabletop to the bar top (open until 2 a.m. on the weekends), its diverse and exquisite selection of food and drinks keep the night owls coming back for more.

“Our laid-back atmosphere makes us different,” said Ryan Baker, assistant manager of Tsunami. “We’re able to cater to the late-night crowd.”

Tsunami’s menu is an elegant blend of the East and the West. From the rib-eye steak hibachi to the Red Dragon roll, Tsunami provides customers with a dining experience that is not

only innovative and fresh but also aesthetically pleasing. Best of all, Tsunami offers happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, with $2.50 house liquors and your choice of three sushi rolls for $8.95. And if you ever get a craving for some quality food on the weekend, Tsunami offers 25 percent off food for college students on Sundays.

According to Baker, some of the more popular rolls are the Crab Crunch (crab, tempura flakes and spicy mayo), the G.M.C. (crab, shrimp, tempura flakes and spicy mayo) and the classic Philly roll (smoked salmon, cucumber and cream

cheese).Alice [email protected]

700 Gervais St. Sunday – Thursday

4:30 p.m. – midnight Friday & Saturday

4 p.m. – 2 a.m.803-312-9911tsunamicompany.com


35

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37

Best Jewelry Store

HANDPICKED36

USC students have agreed there is only one place for jewelry in Columbia. With four locations in the area, HandPicked has won awards for its creative jewelry and gifts all across Columbia, and for the second year in a row, Daily Gamecock readers have voted it the best jewelry store.

The shop specializes in handcrafted jewelry and monograms , which can be personalized for any occas ion . An ex tens ive selection of sterling silver also makes the boutique shop the first place to look

at when buying a gift, and at less than $40 for most pieces, great graduation gifts abound if you bring your parents along.

HandPicked also offer gifts for the home, including wall decorations, handbags, scarves and other personal accessories, so it’s a great stop if you’re moving into a new residence hall or apartment . And with a monogram, you can make sure your roommate doesn’t take any of your new stuff.

HandPicked opened its first shop in Columbia in 1986, and the company has expanded to 15 stores in five different states. Locally,

shops are on Devine Street, in Irmo, in Lexington and in Northeast Columbia.

You can also visit the store online at HandPicked.net, where you can join the mailing list. Subscribers will receive coupons, discounts and notifications of special events. Visit online or stop in at any of their local stores to find the right gift today.



2822 Devine St.Monday – Saturday

10 a.m. – 7 p.m.803-251-2946handpicked.net@HandPickedInc

12

Best Grocery Store

PUBLIX37

When it comes to grocery stores, customer service seems to be the factor that sets a chain apart. The Florida-based Publix is a staple throughout Columbia and a favorite of USC students for four years running.

Publix is “where shopping is a pleasure,” and Derrick Dominick, a fourth-year management student, said that’s what the store tries to provide.

“I shop at other grocery stores like Bi-Lo, but the employees at Publix probably seem like they are the most willing to help you,” Dominick said. “While [Publix] can be a bit pricey, they at least respect you. And the fact that they are right [near] campus

doesn’t hurt either.” The grocery store’s Vista

location is about a mile from campus — walking distance if you bring a sturdy bag and are feeling ambitious.

Products may be a l i t t le more expensive than those at Food Lion and Bi-Lo, but weekly specials are available for bargain hunters. There’s also a pharmacy in the Rosewood Drive location. Publix.com has party and wedding planning ideas, nutrition information and recipes for a healthy diet.

501 Gervais St.150 Harbison Blvd.2800 Rosewood Drive

7 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Kyle [email protected]


BEST OF

(803) 386-2278701 Santee Ave, Ste A, Columbia, SC 29205

SC NAILSThank You for voting

2 years in a row!

39

The Carolina community has once again named Brittons, in business since 1947, as this year’s best men’s clothing store.

“This is a great honor that the University of South Carolina ... think(s) so much of our store,” said Perry Lancaster, store manager.

Brittons’ motto is “First I m p r e s s i o n s A r e L a s t i n g Impressions,” according to the store’s website, and the shop certainly provides clothing for a strong first impression. Brittons showcases a number of fine clothing brands for any Southern gentleman, such as Vineyard Vines and Southern Tide, and it will be adding Chubbies during an event held Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Additionally, Brittons, which has won the readers’ vote of best men’s clothing store for four consecutive

years now, plans to add the Vineyard Vines’ ladies’ collection to the store.

“Amazing brands and services are what set us apart,” Lancaster said.

Aside from offering a wide array of clothing, Brittons also supports the university through involvement with organizations such as USC Fraternity and Sorority Life, as well as Dance Marathon.

“We enjoy giving back to the community,” Lancaster said.

Best Men’s Clothing Store

Best Movie Theater

BRITTONS

REGAL COLUMBIANA GRANDE STADIUM 14

38

2818 Devine St. Monday – Friday

10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 803-771-2700brittonsofcolumbia.com@brittonstweets


With so many discounts and a variety of movies genres, it’s no wonder why USC students think the Regal Columbiana Grande Stadium 14 offers the best movie theater experience in Columbia.

Other cinemas may be located closer to campus, but they apparently don’t provide the quality students have found in Columbiana Grande for the past four years.

“We really appreciate students making the drive to see us even though there are closer theaters they could go (to),” said Maria Caldwell, general manager of Columbiana Grande.

Columbiana Grande really loves to

go overboard with the discounts. USC students can see a movie any time before 3 p.m., when less expensive matinee tickets are on sale, but they can also take advantage of the student discounts offered Sunday through Thursday.

For all ROTC members, a military discount is offered every day. If students do the math right, they could experience quality cinema for a cheaper price.

Fraternities and sororities, as well as other USC student organizations, can also take advantage of group sales and discounts offered to student-related groups when they book private events and enjoy the valuable level of service the theater provides.

Students can even enjoy dinner and a movie. In addition to popcorn, candy and the usual theater concessions, Columbiana Grande offers meal-related treats like corn dogs, hot dogs and chicken wings to munch on during the experience of a cinematic adventure.

With 14 theaters, various snack options and valuable deals, Columbiana Grande del ivers the u l t imate movie-going experience students crave.

1250 Bower Parkway Daily screenings 9 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.803-407-8683

Tyler [email protected]

Evan D. [email protected]

10

Best Women’s Clothing Store

WISH39

Evident by the four consecutive years readers have voted it the best women’s clothing store, Wish’s spacious shop is the place to stop for Southern style. Located between Delaney’s Speakeasy and Drip Coffee on Saluda Avenue in Five Points, the big pink store is full of the latest affordable fashions for women.

It’s been a Five Points fixture for about eight years, according to manager Amber Barron, and it’s grown a lot in that time. Recently, Wish even started carrying brand-name BCBG.

“They found us,” said Barron, who expects the store will keep expanding.

She moved to Columbia after working in Wish’s Greenville location, which is also thriving.

“We’ve been really busy since classes started

up again,” she said.Escapada tops have been a big seller. The

“lux for less” retailer lets sellers like Wish customize the shirts. With bold patterns and bright colors, they look like they came out of Lilly Pulitzer, but cost a lot less.

“We try to keep it affordable for students,” Barron said.

In the fall, Wish stocks up on garnet and black dresses, though it invariably sells out as

students gear up for football season. Due to Columbia’s erratic weather lately,

Wish has been selling jackets and dresses, Barron said.

719 Saluda Ave. Monday – Friday

11 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5:45 p.m. Sunday: 1 – 4 p.m.803-931-3247@WISH5pts


Devon Clarke / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

8

SERVICES

41

43

Best Hotel

Best Tanning Salon

COURTYARD MARRIOTT

ULTRATAN

42

630 Assembly St.803-799-7800

Aaron [email protected]

Brian Almond / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

With spring break just weeks away, USC students are starting to plan their getaways to sunny Florida or the Bahamas, and they’re making sure that when they put on their bathing suits for the first time this spring, they look their best.

It was a no-brainer for USC students in naming Ultratan their favorite tanning salon for the fourth year in a row, not only because of its close proximity to campus but also the variety of tanning beds, Mystic Tan spray tan equipment and lotions available to them.

When USC students visit Ultratan, they are greeted by the smiling faces of the Ultratan staff, which manager Lauren Morrison believes makes all the difference.

“I think our great customer service sets us apart from other tanning salons,” Morrison said. “We try to educate our clients by

giving them a tour of our salon before their first tanning session.”

Ultratan offers first-time members a free week of tanning, which Morrison believes keeps the customers coming back. Ultratan has more than 70 locations in the U.S., including three in Columbia, and has several membership packages of varying prices to choose from.

So whether you’re trying to get a base tan before vacation or gearing up for sundress season, Ultratan is the place to go.

Ashley [email protected]

2113 Greene St. Monday – Friday

9 a.m. – 9 p.m.Saturday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Hours to extend March 1)803-771-9921


The Marriott’s Courtyard Columbia Downtown at USC has won the hearts of readers when it comes to Best of Carolina awards.

As one of the closest hotels to USC campus and arguably the most luxurious, it truly is “the best location for USC,” according to Andrew Soltau, a front office manager at the establishment.

At 630 Assembly St., it’s across the street from the Carolina Coliseum and just a block from the Honors Residence Hall. Guests can stroll through campus on their way to Five Points or the Statehouse — so it’s convenient whether your best friend or your grandparents are coming to visit.

There’s complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the building, and all of the updated and spacious rooms at the Courtyard meet

an executive standard with high-quality furniture and beautiful interior decorating.

The hotel also includes a fully functional fitness center, pool, meeting rooms and ballrooms, so visitors have everything they need for a comfortable stay. There are unbeatable in-room amenities and a free shuttle to places such as the Columbia airport.

The environment and service make the Courtyard the best destination for guests to Columbia.

It’s is a hotel that “absolutely caters to USC students’ and visitors’ needs,” Soltau said, which is why it’s earned USC’s trust as the best of the best.

6

Trusting a car repair shop can be risky. There’s a fine line between effective service and consummate prices, and finding a place that offers both can be difficult.

However, Firestone Complete Auto Care thrives on such a quality, and it’s what has made them the best car repair shop for four years running.

“Honesty, integrity and quick service — I think that’s the best way to sum it up, and our customers would agree,” shop manager Ruy Tamayo said.. “We have fast and efficient service.”

T h a n k s t o F i r e s t o n e ’s convenient location to campus — on the corner of Gervais and Barnwell streets — the shop has been able to attract many student cus tomers . Keep ing those customers, though, has been the product of its great service.

“I’d say about 30 to 40 percent of our business comes from USC students,” Tamayo said. “We’ve been good to them, and they’ve been good to us ... We fix it right 99.9 percent on the first time. That’s important to us.”

Firestone’s website allows c u s t o m e r s t o s c h e d u l e appointments online. Car owners can see what time slots are available to easily make a match with their schedules.

Firestone also makes auto repair easy for students on tight schedules, thanks to its wide range of hours of operation.

Best Auto Repair

FIRESTONE43


1738 Gervais St.Monday – Friday

7 a.m. – 7 p.m.Saturday: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.803-250-2598firestonecompleteautocare.com


45

With 12 locations across South Carolina and another set to open in May, it’s no surprise Frank’s Car Wash has received support from voters as the best car wash in Columbia for fourth years running.

The company began in 1973, when founder Frank Hutchins enlisted his son, Mike Hutchins, to open the first Frank’s Car Wash on Bush River Road in Columbia. Even now, the company is still family-owned and prides itself in having washed more than 8 million cars, according to its website.

Each location performs various

detail services such as waxing, interior cleaning, carpet shampoo and engine cleaning. Frank’s Car Wash is the winner of the 2011 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics and shares the same equipment in each location as the BMW plant in Spartanburg.

Best Car Wash

Best Place of Worship

FRANK’S CAR WASH

MIDTOWN FELLOWSHIP

44


601 Bush River RoadMonday – Saturday

8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday

10 a.m. – 6 p.m.803-772-7390frankscarwash.com

With four weekly gatherings at two downtown Columbia locations, Midtown Fellowship caters to a large and varied congregation. Contemporary-style services and compelling sermon series — like last fall’s “Party Jesus” and the currently ongoing “Religion Ruins Everything” — attract hundreds of college-aged worshipers every Sunday.

For the third year in a row, readers have voted Midtown Fellowship as the best place of worship in the Carolina community.

The 5-year-old church is highly focused on growing relationships both within the church community and between the church and the city. Small, close-knit LifeGroups meet off campus throughout the week, many of them led by college students.

Members regularly engage in service ministry together, including throwing an annual Super Bowl party at Transitions

homeless shelter.“Midtown is an amazing place. The best

thing about Midtown is that they teach the gospel of Jesus constantly,” second-year exercise science student Ashleigh Schaefer said. “It is a grace-centered church. Another great aspect of Midtown is the community. Every different type of person that you could imagine is there, but we all have Jesus in common.”

Midtown hosts an annual fall retreat and a spring break mission trip targeted specifically toward college students. This spring, students will travel to Miami for a week of service and sharing the gospel.


2925 Devine St.Sunday: 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m. & 7 p.m.

1830 Main St. Sunday at 5 p.m.

803-748-4780midtowncolumbia.com@MidtownColumbia


Lee Walker / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

4

Students seeking to get pampered after a stressful week have to look no further than USC Nails, which is within walking distance of USC’s campus.

The salon’s convenient location is just one of the many reasons why USC students voted USC Nails at Blossom the best salon in Columbia.

Manager Lena Dang believes the salon’s cleanliness and friendly staff are a part of what keeps customers coming back.

“We sanitize everything and keep our salon very clean,” Dang said. “Our staff is also very friendly and professional.”

USC Nails also offers a discount to USC students, making the pampering experience enjoyable and affordable.

When you visit USC Nails, you are given the choice of a beverage and a foot massage

to go with your pedicure.Located on Santee Avenue in Five Points,

USC Nails offer manicures for $15, pedicures for $30 and much more.

USC Nails has only been open for a year and a half, but it has already become a salon staple in the community and won the hearts of Daily Gamecock readers for the best salon category.

So next time you’re looking to treat yourself after a big test or presentation, try out USC Nails. You’ll be glad you did.

Ashley [email protected]

701 Santee Ave.Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.803-386-2278

Best Nail Salon

USC NAILS45

Devon Clarke / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

NEWWINNER

GAMECOCK THE

47

When you first look at Olympia & Granby Mills apartments, it’s hard to believe they’re geared toward people just like you: the off-campus student looking for a place to call home. With their granite countertops, spacious layouts and loads of amenities, it’s mind-boggling to think the average ordinary college student can afford such luxury so close to campus, and readers have voted Olympia & Granby Mills as the best off-campus living for the third year in a row.

As the name suggest, this complex used to be old cotton mills, constructed back in the late 19th century. It retains its late Southern charm with all of the modern amenities and perks all college students crave.

At other student complexes in the area, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that has a little bit of everything for everyone, including a fenced-in dog park for animal lovers, indoor fitness centers in each building along with tennis, basketball and volley courts for the

athletic crowd and a pool and grilling area for entertaining for those gregarious types, with plenty of parking for themselves and their guests.

Who wouldn’t want large rooms, beautiful bathrooms and huge windows with the added convenience of a washer and dryer in each unit, or in a laundry room on each floor of your building, for only around $500 to $600 a month?

And as one of the closest apartments to USC, it’s easy for students to remain actively involved on campus. It’s only a simple walk or bike back and forth to attend class or cheer on the Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium.

With its reasonable and competitive pricing and abundant features, you’ll find your money will stretch further here. Olympia & Granby Mills is a bargain that all should look into.

Best Off-Campus Living

Best Hair Salon

OLYMPIA & GRANBY MILLS

PAUL MITCHELL THE SCHOOL

46

Aaron [email protected]

501 Heyward St.803-667-3705millsliving.com

A quality facility, a convenient Vista location and hard-to-beat prices earn Paul Mitchell the School top marks from USC students for Columbia hair salons for the second year running.

With prices starting at just $10 for a basic wash, cut and blow-dry, all services are performed by Paul Mitchell students under the direct supervision of an instructor. Stylists spend six weeks learning and practicing techniques on mannequins before serving clients.

“They really walk through

your haircut with you at Paul Mitchell,” third-year journalism student Katie West said. “It takes a little longer than other places, but it’s worth it because you know you’re going to get a lot of attention and the style you want. And the price is incredibly low.”


700 Gervais St. (behind Jillian’s)Tuesday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday & Saturday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 803-772-2232


File Photo

university oaksgarnet river walk

upgraded amenities & leather-style furniture package coming soon + great location to campus resort-style amenities + private bedrooms + private shuttle to campus + pet friendly

columbia’s premier

apply online todaystudent living

for fall 2013


sc.edu/nolimits

She’s held human skulls, located body parts, worked in morgues, autopsy labs and at crime scenes. But Brittany Walter’s real curiosity is taking her far beyond the medical examiner’s office to places like an early Egyptian cemetery and an ancient Mediterranean gravesite in the land where King Midas is believed to have ruled. A doctoral student in biological anthropology, she analyzes ancient skeletal remains to diagnose breast cancer and other deadly diseases. By digging through the medical mysteries of the past, Brittany is uncovering the diagnostic tools of tomorrow.

Best of Carolina 2013

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