Vista shops and galleries open late for September Vista Nights

September 11, 2015

COLUMBIA, SC – The Congaree Vista Guild, a non-profit, membership-based organization made up of a wide variety of restaurant, shop, business and gallery owners, homeowners and museums in the Vista, announces its plans for September 2015’s Vista Nights. This event, which is free and open to the public and takes place on the third Thursday of each month, is Thursday, September 17, 5-8 p.m.

The Vista Guild organizes this event to offer later shopping hours at the neighborhood’s most popular galleries and retailers on Thursday evenings, which are already bustling with diners and hotel guests in the neighborhood’s restaurants and bars.

September Vista Nights participating galleries include (download images by clicking here):

• 302 Artisans at Senate’s End, 302 Senate Street. Offering Dabble and Drink art classes by Brenda Konitzer of Gates of O’brillin from 6 – 8 p.m. This month, participants will have the chance create mixed media on canvas in classic steampunk style. Participants can bring in old jewelry, watches or other small items to create their pieces. Light hors d’oeuvres are provided and there is a food truck on site to purchase food. This class is $35 (all supplies are included) and attendees can bring their own alcoholic beverages. Register in advance by calling 803-238-6019.
• City Art, 1224 Lincoln Street. Showing new paintings by Thomas Crouch.
• Ellen Taylor Interiors, 1012 Gervais Street. Serving complimentary beverages and showing new art by Laura Palermo and Jarid Lyfe Brown.
• if ART Gallery, 1223 Lincoln Street. Featuring “if ART in BETWEEN: From the Vault,” with works by Kees Salentjin, Michaela Pilar Brown, Leslie Hinton and James Busby.
• Lewis+Clark, 1001 Huger Street. Featuring “Girl Bots are Here,” a selection of Clark Ellefson’s newest robot charging stations. All of Ellefson’s modern lamps and robots are made in Columbia and crafted of paper, steel, glass and wood.
• Studio Cellar, 912 Lady Street. Offering 10 percent discount on painting class during Vista Nights. Instructors will walk participants through painting step-by-step. Register in advance at studiocellar.com.

“Thursday evenings are always alive in the Vista with diners packing our restaurants and tourists in our hotels,” said Meredith Atkinson, executive director of the Congaree Vista Guild Board. “Shoppers and gallery visitors can wind their way through the Vista and stay to eat at one of our restaurants or attend a special event at one of our museums.”

Parking, as always, is easily accessible in the Vista’s parking garages at 820 Washington Street and at the corner of Senate and Pendleton Streets behind the Hilton hotel.