Vista Nights

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 July 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, July 16, 5-8 p.m.

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

July Vista Nights participating galleries include:

• 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 to decorate their own steampunk bracelet with a sculpey clay face. Participants can bring in old jewelry, watches or other small items to decorate their bracelets. 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.

• Ellen Taylor Interiors, 1012 Gervais Street. Serving complimentary beverages and showing new art and merchandise.

• if ART Gallery, 1223 Lincoln Street. Featuring “Angular Existence,” a summer exhibition featuring Roland Albert, Michaela Pilar Brown, Michael Brodeur, Ashlynn Browning, Beverly Buchanan, James Busby, Steven Chapp, Jeff Donovan, Klaus Hartmann, Sjaak Kirstein, Reiner Mahrlein, Sam Middleton, Eric Miller, Edward Rice and Tom Stanley.

• Lewis+Clark, 1001 Huger Street. Featuring “Recent Incandescent Activities,” a selection of Clark Ellefson’s newest handmade lamps.

• 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 and use coupon code “july18” for discount at studiocellar.com.

“Thursday evenings are always alive in the Vista with diners packing our restaurants and tourists in our hotels,” said Richard Burts, president of the Congaree Vista Guild Board of Directors. “We’re excited that Vista Nights has become a regular monthly events, where many of our businesses will stay open beyond their regular business hours. Shoppers 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.