<p>I keep hearing about the Five Points area - supposedly a place where the college kids like to go. Is it a restaurant/club area? How far? Wondering whether it would be a good place for lunch/shopping on move-in weekend. Thanks!</p>
<p>5 points is one of the local bar/restaurant areas.Its walking distance but uphill/downhill,closest to the Capstone area of campus.
Its the rowdier of the two areas (the Vista is the other). S goes there sometimes after football games,not much any time else.
Its really not the "shopping" area,there are some funky stores, abike store, drug store,etc.Also a supermarket.Various restuarants and as H discovered last year, a Starbucks.
If you are going to want big box or chain store shopping, 5 pointds won't be where you are heading.</p>
<p>Five Points is the big frat and sorority bar area. The Greek clothing and accessory store is also in Five Points. There are bars, small restaurants some quirky shops and pizza parlors galore.</p>
<p>There is also a really good Italian Restaurant, Garibaldi's, in Five Points. It is annually rated either the number one or two restaurant in Columbia. We had dinner there the Sunday of move-in with another couple while our D's were at a Rush activity. Being Italian, I am rather picky about my Italian food and the food and service were top notch;delicate sauces, not heavy or over seasoned and great homemade pastas. The seafood was fresh and and the lamb chop and veal were delicious. We got stuck there for about 40 minutes after dinner was complete because of a huge thunderstorm that rolled through and were "forced " to have dessert and cappuccino or espresso which were all very well done. The waitress was one of the best I've ever had anywhere.</p>
<p>Five Points also has one of my D's favorites, Harper's, which is very much like a Houston's.</p>
<p>Yummmmmm. We'll definitely check out Garibaldi's. My Italian son-in-law will be jealous! Sounds like a definite for Sat. night after move-in. I appreciate all the info on the area.</p>
<p>greenville
my hats off to you if you can bear to clean up and dress nicely for a dinner after the sweaty messy move in! I'd be asleep before my entree hit the table LOL</p>
<p>Cathymee -
You mentioned the Vista. Can you fill me in on that area? Thanks.</p>
<p>Not cathymee but saw your post and thought I'd chime in.</p>
<p>Vista is on the opposite side of town (as opposed to Five Points which is just down the hill from Capstone) overlooking the Congolee river I believe (hence Vista) a mile or so down Gervais Street from campus. It's less than a five minute drive from the heart of campus.</p>
<p>Like many cities have experienced, it was an old retail and warehouse district on either side of Gervais that has been renovated and filled with restaurants, a convention center, a hotel and some small shops. One of the buildings that is now a Publix grocery store was the old Confederate Printing Press. It is the decidedly more upscale dining and entertainment area of Columbia but with a wide assortment of restaurants from pizza shops, rib places, breweries and family fare to fine dining.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>That is our type of area! Thanks so much!</p>