Sunday, Jun. 08, 2008

Who we are: Five questions with a concierge

Five questions with Benjamin Blackwell, property operations manager of Columbia Hilton, who guides visitors on things to do in the Columbia area:

QUESTION: If someone is only in town for a day and wants to learn about Columbia, what do you recommend?

ANSWER: Visiting the State Museum, the State House grounds, Adluh Flour Mill, USC campus, Robert Mills House — all provide great aspects of the Columbia area and are worth checking out.

QUESTION: What is your favorite attraction in the city?

ANSWER: I like Riverfront Park, right past the Gervais Street bridge. It has a beautiful walking trail by the river, overlooked by the skyline of the city.

QUESTION: What is the funniest thing a guest has come back and reported on taking a tour of Columbia?

ANSWER: I always find it amusing to hear them say some of our street names, such as Gervais (pronounced jer-vay) and Huger (pronounced yoo-jee). The connotations that they come up with are hilarious!

QUESTION: What do you consider the best hidden gem that most people don’t know about?

ANSWER: Rockaways Hamburgers on Rosewood Drive, which has one of the best pimento cheeseburgers. The building doesn’t even have a sign on it.. Even President Bush went to eat there on a visit here.

QUESTION: What do you think are the best things for kids to do in Columbia?

ANSWER: EdVenture Children’s Museum offers the world’s biggest “child” that kids can crawl in and out of while learning at a multitude of stations. Finlay Park has a large fielded area and a play area especially suited for children. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is another great place to take your kids, offering everything from koalas to polar bears.

— Lezlie Patterson

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