Keeps Me Cryin' Carolina.

Oh man! I love/miss my small college town.

For those of you that might disagree that (1) Columbia is small town or (2) that is a "college" town.....

Well then you either (1) have never lived in Columbia and (2) you have never visited during the summer time.

Columbia is a ghost town in the summertime.  Obviously when school is not in the population decreases dramatically, but one would think that the general population would still make the streets busy and restaurants/bars filled.  That is simple not the case.  Everyone lives in the outlying areas, therefore living Columbia proper deserted.  Columbia very much caters to the University and its students.  When I was in school, I felt like I was in my own little bubble, especially when I lived on campus my first year.

Carolina definitely offers a little bit of everything for its students.  There is small arts/music scene. Ya know...Hootie & the Blowfish all meet at Carolina and got their start in the bars of Five Points.  Urbanish life with plenty to do on the weekends.  Good boutique shopping on Devine Street.  Between The Vista and Five Points there is a bar for everyone's taste and plenty of delicious eats.

Okay! Enough on my plug for Carolina.  I personally miss being surrounded by all things Garnet & Black.  I miss all the local restaurants, too (i.e. Lizard's Thicket & Yesterday's).  And, if you have ever had a milkshake from Rush's then you know perfectly well what I am talking about.  DiPrato's brunch will cure any hangover, promise.  Then, there is my ultimate favorite place to eat in Columbia...Rockaway's.

It is the no-frills burger joint every college town has.  The best part is that you have to be in-the-know on this place, because it is located in a non-descript brick building with no sign or indication that it is a restaurant.  George W. Bush even stopped by for a pimento cheeseburger in 2005 and gave his seal of approval.  So, this past weekend I had to have a meal there.  I had not had a burger from there since the day I graduated almost two years ago.  It was everything I remembered. HA!

Standard Pimento Cheeseburger

Saturday night following the game, Elizabeth and I meet up with a few of my friends from college at the newest bar, Tin Roof, in the Vista.  If it sounds familiar, it is the same bar that is in Knoxville and Nashville.  We danced to a great live band, Jacob Reynolds, from Nashville.  I ran into so many old friends and got to catch up with them.  I sadly though...didn't take any pictures. 

My dad and sister came up for the Sunday game.  Elizabeth and I had regular seats, but my dad and sister did not...they only had standing-room only tickets.  Therefore, we decided to stand with them and picked out a spot behind UConn's bullpen.  Can I tell you about the funny, disturbed looks Elizabeth and I got from the UConn pitchers and catchers when we were yelling "Go COCKS!!"?!?  Priceless.  It was a very excited game and I am ready to watch us defend our National title.

Hope we have to build another!

Ainsley, Elizabeth, and I

Happy Wednesday!

Until tomorrow my loves...y'all have a good one!

Soulfully,

Ashton
Title: Corey Smith, "Carolina"