re: Tell me about a South Carolina game weekend

Blue Marlin is a pretty decent restaurant.

The Ruth’s in the Hilton downtown used to be nice, but I think it went downhill.

If you get bored, can always go check out Lake Murray/Dam over in Lexington. Easily one of the prettiest lakes in the US.

Saluda River and Congaree River may also have some activities.

I did some damage at the Charleston County Gamecock Club season kickoff party last night. One of the first there and last to leave

Secured our tickets in the live auction. If it’s a day game I think section 1 sees the shade pretty early. Confused a few people with my badger hat, but an awesome time for sure.

Enjoy your time in Columbia watching Kentucky dismantle South Carolina

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worthwhile BBQ places

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Maurice’s Piggy Park

City Limits BBQ

tl;dr great weekend and trip and I definitely want to go back for LSU next year (I think they're due to play in Columbia?)

It was an awesome trip and weekend, obviously made better by the nice performance and whipping they put on Kentucky.

Our house was in the Arsenal Hill neighborhood, so walkable to the Main St District and in a safe and quiet area. Friday the weather was really crappy so we didn't get a chance to walk the horseshoe. Instead stopped at Market on Main and then went to Jake's around 6. It was dead there but there was a frat thing going on and those people were all starting to file in in their blue blazers and khaki pants. Beer garden, sadly, was empty because I love me a beer garden.

After that we went to the Salty Nut, which was the opposite...holy crap was it crowded and the talent there was spectacular. Very young crowd with a few parents mixed in picking up the tabs for the kids.

Hit a pretty quiet sportsbar not far away that had the games on for a few more before heading back to the house. I know the Five Points area is the bar district but we didn't see or get to experience the area in all its glory, though I assume there are many more bars we just missed and it was quieter because of the game and because it was relatively early.

Saturday was brunch on Main (at Prohibition...they also have one in Charleston) and then tailgating. I know the stadium is off campus, but I loved the vibe over there in those large grassy tailgate lots. Setups as far as you can see (though I didn't see any on the level of what I would expect at LSU), sundresses and cowboy boots galore, friendly people, and a cool vibe in general. I love that style of pregame. We just carried our cooler around and checked things out, stopping at random spots.

I like the design of the stadium, our seats were good, we made friends with the people around us, and the production of the game was fantastic. Really fun. The energy in the stadium far exceeded what you would get for a similar sized game at Wisconsin.

We knew getting home after was gonna be an issue so left a bit early, still couldn't get an Uber, so we parked it at J's Bar near the stadium and met some cool, fun people there.

Only having a 1:45 hungover drive home was really nice, and I definitely want to go back for a game next year, ideally the LSU game when some of you folks might be in attendance.



Jake's beer garden, dead aside from the frat bros and their parents, probably awesome when it's jumping



Frat bros at Salty Nut. I think land shark lager was on special because there were dozens of them on the table. One thing that surprised me given it was a Friday before a home game...way less Gamecocks gear than I would have expected. In Madison most people out would be decked in Badger gear on a Friday.



We also hit Peebles, and some guy and his Irish girlfriend, whose nails were painted for OSU, bought us Irish Car Bombs. I asked the Irish girlfriend if she was offended by that name and she said no.



Way more Cockabooses than I expected there to be. But while they're right next to the stadium they're a little isolated from the more fun tailgating spots/fields



Waiting on the team for their walk.



Beamer Ball: ENGAGE





Rowdy crowd. I liked it. Though there was a guy just down our row from us, wearing SC gear, that was also a Badger. I told him I think Jump Around is overrated and he didn't like that at all.

Glad you had a good time.

Please go home though and tell everyone you see back up north that is horrible down here and never move here. Thanks!

Glad you had a good time. I wish you had gotten stoops fired while you were there.

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SuperSaint

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We pipe in music like I pipe your mom every Monday

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I wish Pavlovs was still open so you could have experienced the cocaine palace on a Friday night before a home game. The talent there after midnight was even better than at Salty Nut.

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We walked by the country bar (ECW?) and I feel like it had a ton of potential, but my buddy was not into it so that's how we ended up at Peebles. The country place had a separate line/entry each for guys and girls, which was odd. We'll hit it on the next trip.

ETA: Ah, I think it was Carolina Western Pub.