/ by Sandra Woodward / illustration by Tatjana Mai-Wyss
Lake City is an idyllic town and what it may lack in numbers, it makes up for in originality. Since the creation of its acclaimed arts festival, ArtFields, in 2013, Lake City has welcomed tens of thousands for its unique celebration of the arts, as well as the annual Tobacco Festival (promoting history, not tobacco use) and Rhythm and Qs, a party in honor of music and food heritage.
Downtown reflects this new energy with a lovely boutique hotel, an infusion of shops, inviting spaces and so much public art, such as the trompe l’oeil swarm of honeybees by Asheville artist Matthew Willey; it covers the front of the building at the corner of E.Thomas and S. Alcline Street. And, a new mural on Sauls Street by Florida artists Andrew and Sarah Wilson, which celebrates Lake City’s farming tradition with a bundle of green beans painted across its exterior wall.
In fact, bring along a cooler for fresh local produce from Matthew’s Fruit Stand, an old-fashioned open-air market, right across the street from this mural. And don’t miss out on walking into Frye’s Meat Market, a specialty butcher shop.
Lake City boasts top-notch galleries full of contemporary works along with precious places to stop for a meal or snack (from hot dogs and ice cream to barbecue and catfish). Visit the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Memorial to pay homage to SC’s heroic astronaut. Moore Farms Botanical Garden is well worth a visit too, so check its website for visiting options, since there are no scheduled hours.
Bear in mind that Lake City is interesting any time of year but visit during ArtFields in April for the full weight of what this forward-thinking community has to offer.
Trax Visual Art Center
The large, flexible, sophisticated art gallery and sculpture garden in the heart of downtown is not your typical small-town venue.
122 Sauls St. | (843) 374-0262
traxvisualartcenter.com
Jones-Carter Gallery
The down-home feed and seed exterior belies the 21st century energy and vision of the exhibits in a modern, state-of-the art exhibition space.
105 Henry St. | (843) 374-1505
jonescartergallery.com
The Elegant Bee
This carefully curated mix of period furniture and accessories is a favorite. They specialize in 18th and 19th century antiques with a fresh, sophisticated vibe along with elegant accent pieces.
112 Sauls St. | (843) 687-4757
Main Street Mercantile
A top-quality shop offering home decor and accents among many other options of apparel, gifts for any occasion and other treasures in a friendly, welcoming update of a downtown storefront.
111 E. Main St. | (843) 374-2333
East Main Market
Vintage furniture and decor items and whimsical collectibles. There are some nice quality upholstered pieces, attractively painted case goods, and plenty of accent pieces.
139 East Main St. | (843) 373-2165
eastmainmarketllc.com
Cheraw River Woodworks
For treasures in need of restoration or repair, this is a unique company. From re-caning chair seats and repairing and refinishing furniture, they provide precise restoration of wood, metals, even textiles.
111 Cash Ave. | (843) 394-9573
chehawriverwoodworks.com
Where to Eat (and Retreat) in Lake City
The influence of ArtFields in Lake City’s revival cannot be overestimated, and the explosion of venues for dining and accommodation in the immediate downtown area reflects the vibe. The Inn at the Crossroads boutique hotel and its elegant on-site restaurant, Crossroads Bar and Grille, offer sophistication in a beautifully restored space. Other restaurants provide everything from morning coffee and pastry to a variety of dinner choices. In addition to barbecue, Piggybacks also offers a fine rendition of fried catfish. Grab a hot dog or gourmet ice cream at the aptly named (and very cute) Snax. A place named Linger offers specialty coffee and fabulous pastry or meet a friend for breakfast or lunch at Baker’s Sweets. The Shrimper is Lake City’s go-to for great seafood and Lisa’s at the Railway features meat-and-three fare in the quaint former train station.
What is ArtFields?
In 2013, a group of passionate, committed residents put their collective energy and clout behind an event unlike any other in the state. The 9-day celebration of the art and artists of the Southeast would be called ArtFields, a name that would fuse the new vision (the Art part) and the area’s long-time but dwindling agricultural economy (the Fields part). With local retailers and other venues— like the library and the history museum— exhibiting the juried submissions, the entire town would be transformed into a living, walkable art gallery. Today, 400+ works of art are on display each spring and ArtFields awards more than $140,000 in cash prizes to participating artists. The annual event is April 24-May 2 this year, but its spirit never leaves Lake City with indoor and outdoor public gifts of art gracing corners and buildings of this re-energized downtown, with more on the horizon. Start exploring at artfieldssc.org
Lake City boasts a dozen works of public art installed in downtown with plans for three more by the end of spring of 2020, including a mural depicting native birds by Greenville’s Sunny Mullarkey. Read more about her in our feature story: Composition.
