COLUMBIA, S.C. (August 15, 2014)—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 August’s Vista Nights, a crawl through the Vista’s art galleries and shops. This event, which is free and open to the public and will take place on the third Thursday of each month, is Thursday, August 21, 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.

Additionally this month, The Next Door Drummers with the Columbia Community Drum Circle will add to the Vista Nights atmosphere by performing at the corner of Lincoln and Gervais streets.

August Vista Nights participating galleries and retailers include:
• City Art, 1224 Lincoln Street, the art supply store at City Art will offer back-to-school sales and Allan Anderson will be painting live to highlight his solo exhibition, “Discovery Painting.”
• EdVenture Children’s Museum, 211 Gervais Street, presenting EdVenture After Dark: LOL, 6:30 p.m. Adults 21 and up can enjoy comedians from Soda City Stand Up and River Rat Brewery craft beer. Tickets for $20.
• Ellen Taylor Interiors, 1012 Gervais Street, featuring artist Rick Reinert’s paintings of Columbia streets and views. Wine will be served to patrons.
• Frank’s Gentlemen’s Salon, 717 Lady Street, tour the new salon, which provides men with traditional barbershop services in modern style. Complementary shoe shines with any service or walk-in during Vista Nights.
• Lewis & Clark ,1001 Huger Street, a selection of Clark Ellefson’s new lamps and robots and mid-century bucket chairs in period colors. Featuring Norma, a mid-sized wood body lamp in cherry, maple and walnut with a variety of handmade paper shades and beer tastings.
• M Grille, 530 Lady Street, presenting a four-course meal with wine pairings by Chef Crawford Pressley of Loosh Culinaire, 6 p.m. Seats available for $68 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations at mw@miyos.com.
• One Eared Cow, 1001 Huger Street.
• Vista Studios/Gallery 80808, 808 Lady Street, Vista History, A discussion with Robin Waites of Historic Columbia Foundation, 6 p.m.

“Thursday evenings are always alive in the Vista with diners packing our restaurants and tourists in our hotels,” said Sarah Lewis, executive director of the Congaree Vista Guild. “We’ve seen the need for some our galleries and retailers to stay open a little later on Thursdays, and we’re excited about Vista Nights, where many of our businesses will stay open beyond their regular business hours. Shoppers can wind their way through these Vista businesses and stay to eat at one of our restaurants or attend a special event at one of our museums.”

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

For more information about the Vista, please visit www.VistaColumbia.com or call Sarah Lewis at (803) 269.5946. Follow the Vista Guild on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook.

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