How I Go Columbia: USC’s Frances ‘Boo’ Major

On Monday, Aug. 24, Frances “Boo” Major will start her 19th season as head coach of the University of South Carolina equestrian team.

A native of Columbia and a 1981 USC graduate, Major has received state, regional and national recognition as a premier equestrian instructor for more than three decades. Most recently, she was named Coach of the Year by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association for the second year in a row. Major received the accolade this year after the Gamecocks won the 2015 National Collegiate Equestrian Association Championship on April 18 in Waco, Texas.

The equestrian team resumes practices on Monday, Aug. 24 before taking part in its first season meet on Sept. 25 at South Dakota State. The team’s first home meet is set for 2 p.m. Oct. 2 against Texas Christian University.

EAT: DiPrato’s for lunch is a must. If you have never had their pita chips, you don’t know what you are missing. Diane and Celine will make sure your meal is enjoyable and delicious. My favorite place for dinner in Columbia would be Blue Marlin. BLT salad, sesame-encrusted tuna entrée and crème brulee cheesecake for dessert is to die for. Tuesday nights, it’s The Oyster Bar in the Vista, where crab legs are half-off.

The Northeast area has a ton of places to eat, but Solstice (Kitchen) is the best in my book. Everything on the menu is good, and there is always a change in the menu so it doesn’t get old. Groucho’s in Blythewood is a frequent visit for me and the equestrian team. I’m partial to the Apollo mainly because of the 45 sauce, and their crunchy ice is the best. The Other Store’s seven-layer caramel cake is probably my favorite sweet eat.

In the summers, the town of Blythewood has a farmer’s market every Wednesday afternoon. It is an excellent place to go to get fresh vegetables, fresh eggs, cakes if you are an at-home cook. You can’t say Columbia without naming a good barbecue place. I highly recommend Doko Smoke in Blythewood for any type of barbecue you want. Not much room to eat in there, but the barbecue is the best I have ever tasted.

DRINK: If you want to be eccentric and have fun, go to Laura’s Tea Room in Ridgeway for high tea. Upstairs, they serve all sorts of treats on stacked trays and you can pick either hot or iced tea in a variety of flavors. Most ladies will wear a hat or don one of the many hats that are available at the restaurant. Downstairs is a shop that sells mostly tea-related items, but they also serve sandwiches and desserts as well if you don’t want to do the hat-wearing high-tea thing.

LISTEN: The concerts at Colonial Life Arena are always good. I also think The Township Auditorium has done a great job getting in good acts. The building looks great since its remodeling, and the acoustics are wonderful. There isn’t a bad seat in either place.

Doko Meadows in Blythewood often has free concerts in the park that are enjoyable, and they have a fabulous Fourth of July celebration complete with a top-notch fireworks display.

PLAY: No. 1 is tailgating and going to home Carolina football games. I’ve been doing that my whole life and am not stopping now. Catching a basketball game – both men’s and women’s – at the Colonial Life Arena is also a must. Supporting all Gamecock sports is a great and inexpensive way to spend an afternoon or evening. Away from work, I like to go to Lake Wateree. I have a 15-year-old son, Mac, who enjoys boating, fishing and duck hunting on Wateree. I personally like to kayak on the lake.

SEE: Tubing or kayaking down the Congaree is a great adventure. It is cold, but the flora and fauna you will see is amazing. You will hardly know you are floating alongside a busy interstate and a bustling city.

I love the theater. Columbia has great community theaters, and USC also has great drama productions. Trustus is my favorite.

And of course, watching one of our equestrian competitions on Syrup Mill Road in Blythewood is a great way to spend an afternoon in the country.

Janet Jones Kendall, Special to Go Columbia

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 2:57 PM.