Cone Room, 2nd Floor: Fill & Download for Free

I spent the first 23 years of my life growing up in Columbia, and I recently graduated from USC. Rather than going into detail about all of the different things in the city, I’ve made a (somewhat) exhaustive list of the more notable activities and locations in city and surrounding areas (most of which are free).Disclaimer: Not all of the items on the list are strictly legal, and I do not condone or advocate breaking the law, but after 22 years in the city I’ve explored almost every street corner and alleyway.Things to do on or near USC campus:Explore the Steam Tunnels underneath USC campus (Manhole in front of Colloquium)Watch the sunset/sunrise from the top of parking garages (Horizon and Discovery garages are my favorite - careful though, the USC Police will kick you off of the ledge if you sit out on it and they’re required to take down your info if they talk to you)Climb on the roof of Russell House (you have to climb over the locked metal door on the 2nd floor on the side facing away from Greene St.)Set up a hammock in one of the trees on the HorseshoeCheck out the view from the rooftop lounge at the top of the Sheraton on Main St. (21st floor or something like that)Drink coffee and meet people at Cool Beans or Drip Coffee Shop (Drip was voted one of the top 50 coffee shops in America- needs source)Try the grits in the morning at College Grounds! Downstairs in the Cool Beans buildingFirst Thursdays music/art/food festival on Main St.Soda City - Saturday Farmer’s Market on Main St.Live Jazz on Thursday and Saturday night at SpeakeasyLongboarding all over USC campus and in parking garages (avoid the USC police and always be polite if they talk to you)Go see one of the USC improv groups perform (seriously the coolest/most fun group of people on campus)Go see the local band “Frat Mouth” play a show (just a bunch of artsy dudes that really know how to make culture happen!)Arts and Drafts (beer) at the Columbia Museum of ArtLearn the unofficial Frisbee Golf course on USC campus (talk to someone on the Ultimate Frisbee club team)Check out the student art Exhibits in the McMaster galleriesEat lunch at The Top Of Carolina (on top of Capstone Dorms)Get in on a game of Spike Ball on the Horseshoe (the game with the mini trampoline-net and a yellow ball)Play beach volleyball at Strom or over by bates westGet breakfast at the Athlete’s dining hall one morning with your meal planExplore every floor of the Thomas Cooper library and take candid pictures with people in the backgroundGet a $4 (maybe $5?) Medium one-topping pizza from Dominoes on Wednesday nights and have a study group in one of the private rooms at T. Coop. LibraryGet coffee at the Starbucks on Main St. underneath the sheraton (its actually really cool)Explore the Vista (bars, food, stores, Urban Outfitters, etc.)Explore the buildings and parking garages on Main St.Get friends to take you to the pool and mega screen on the roof of The Hub apartments on Main St.Go to all of the events at Tapps Art center (they are a lot of fun and different than most events you’ve been to)Volunteer for a Gallery Exhibition at the 701 Whaley art galleryThe Columbia Museum of Art is free admission on Sundays (I think)Explore all of downtown on a bicycle (or those new moped things)Order a Cheese Board at The Gourmet Shop in 5 pointsVisit The Climb painting studio (1622 Bull St.) and have a complimentary cup of Keurig coffee (some of the most talented artists in the city.)Eat a Sub from Beezer’s Subs (I lived off of Beezers in college)Go for a walk in the neighborhood surrounding the Capstone DormsCheck out the awesome vintage clothes selection at Sid & Nancy in 5-points (I used to buy clothes at thrift stores and sell them to Sid & Nancy for in-store credit)Go thrift-store shopping (there are like 15 of them within a 10 minute drive of the university)Climb the Eno Tree on the horseshoe (the big canopy one that people always hang their hammocks in)Check out the Mast General Store on Main St.Go to Taco Tuesday at The Whig (bar on Main St.)Explore the State House grounds (at day and at night!)Dress Nice and go to the BB&T building on a Friday/Saturday Night. Walk in and ask where the elevator for the event is. Take the elevator to the top floor where the events are held and act natural like you belong there. Hang out for a few minutes and take in the view (its the highest point in the City - seriously, you can see Lake Murray from up there) then politely be on your way, no questions asked.Take a free tour of the State HouseTour/visit the Governor’s MansionTake a Free tour of the Greek Orthodox church downtownExplore Finlay Park (biggest park downtown)Explore Riverfront Park (mile-marked paths for running/cycling by the river)Get a cocktail from Bourbon on Main St. (Best Drinks in Columbia)Go to Jazz Night at the upstairs Lounge at Oyster Bar on Friday Nights (expensive! but a lot of fun to experience at least once)Hang out at the top of the Longstreet Theater stepsIntramural Sports at USC are so much fun and you get to meet a lot of peopleGo to the Hot-tub and Sauna (and pool) at Strom Thurmond in the morning before class (great way to detox if you were out drinking the night before)I’m sure I can think of more but I’m going to stop here for now :)Other Things to do in the Columbia area:Explore the River Walk park in Cayce (beautiful view along the river)Go to the summer concert series at Finlay ParkRhythm on the River in Cayce (live music and performances in the amphitheater at the River Walk in Cayce)Visit the Ed’s Editions book store in CayceSee a show at New Brookland Tavern (cayce)Visit Lake Murray (lots of amazing views - about a 30 minute drive from campus)Walk the Lake Murray Dam (2 mile walk down and back, great place to watch the sunset)Visit Riverbanks ZooGo to Sky Zone trampoline park in Sandhills (30 minute drive)Check out all of the cool stores up Devine St.Visit the Artist Studios in the Arcade Mall off of Main St.See a local house-show (there is an underground group of artists and musicians in Columbia that have house shows and local concerts all of the time)Go tubing down the Congaree River (check out Adventure Carolina in Cayce for tube rentals, kayak rentals, and group river tours)Go to the rock-climbing wall at Stronghold Gym (Huger St. downtown)Visit the Columbia Marionette TheaterGo to a show at Town TheaterVisit Congaree Swamp National Park (20 miles outside of the City)Ride Bikes all the way out to Congaree Swamp and back (may want to train a bit before taking on a 40 mile bike ride, but this was one of my favorite cycling trips)Watch Airplanes coming in and out of the Owens Field Airport. There are picnic tables provided. (mostly private aircraft)Check out Owens Field park, disc golf course, and skatepark (Tony Hawk donated $25k to help fund the skatepark - its a pretty nice park)Explore the tunnel-system underneath the city (I think there is an entrance is off of the railroad tracks somewhere behind the Columbia Marionette Theater, on the South/Southwest side of the tracks)(warning: its wet and dark in the tunnels, like really wet)Find the hidden graveyard(s) behind the Elmwood Cemetery (careful, we came across some people randomly camping in the woods back there one night…). Some of the graves date back to the 1700s and are barely readable.Check out the new walkway/path that leads all the way from Elmwood Cemetery to Finlay ParkFigure out a way to explore Underground Mainstreet (I never could)Read the Free Times local newspaper for lots of great ideas and local events.Tons of local trivia nights (see the Free Times for more info)See an indy movie at the Nickelodeon theater (one of the coolest things to do in the city)Go to a Saturday Morning Flea Market (I know there are lots in West Columbia)Abandoned warehouses in West Columbia (okay this is definitely trespassing but there are some creepy old warehouses near 104 N. Parson St., West Columbia. I’m not encouraging you to trespass, but I know that there are a lot of great photo opportunities inside. Maybe should get permission first.Get a dipped ice cream cone from Zesto in West ColumbiaGo to a Fireflies baseball game (minor league)Check out the rocks on the river near the Riverbanks ZooGo muddin’ at the Mud Bog in GastonVisit the Opera House in NewberryGo to a local AIGA event (graphic design community)Go Swing Dancing with the Palmetto Swing Dance Association on Monday nightsHave a Picnic in the patch of grass behind the bank on Lady St. (1230 Lady St., Columbia)Check out the City Art gallery and art supply store (ask about the Steampunk Bunny illustration the owner, Randy, bought from me)Go to an About Face figure and portrait drawing session at the Columbia Museum of ArtSign up for the email list from One Columbia for a lot of great ideas and updates on the local arts culture (Hey One Columbia, enjoy the free traffic to your site ;)Visit Conquest Brewery and sample their beersHave dinner and Craft Beer at Hunter GathererThe Corn Maze at Clinton Cease Farm (Lexington)See a concert/show at Music FarmGet in on a beginner Yoga class at City Yoga in 5-pointsGet a sub at Groucho’s in 5-points (seriously so good and so addicting)Get late-night cookies from Insomnia cookies in 5-pointsOrganize a Taco-tuesday and make tacos and drinks with friends every tuesday night (this isn’t specific to columbia, but I had tremendous success with this is college. It gave me a designated time each week that guaranteed time to socialize with friends and have fun amidst the hardcore studying and stress of college life)Drink $10 pitchers of Margaritas from Cantina 76 on Main St (Wednesday nights I believe)Find the fake owls rigged up at the top of a parking garage on Sumter St. (not going to say which one ;) Hint: its on the north side of Gervais St.Find a way to explore the Asylum off of Bull St. (idk if its been torn down or not)Frankies Fun Park - arcade/go carts/laser tag/mini golf (Harbison)Check out the “Green Hole” cliff and pond at the apartment complex off of Broad River Rd. (A local favorite spot for Cliff Jumping, definitely not legal to jump but worth visiting- 120 Stoneridge Dr, Columbia)There is a really cool Dam and nature area at the end of the Riverfront Park that you can get to without having to walk the entire 2.5mile trail. Great place to put your tubes in for river tubing down the Broad River and into the Congaree (3 Rivers Greenway, Columbia, SC 29201)Old State Road in Cayce. Its a dirt road we used to drive down in High School with a Creepy church and Railroad crossing (Rumored to be an area for local KKK meetings, and rumored that some kids were killed on the train tracks years ago and now haunt it). Pretty sure the road is closed off to traffic now but worth checking out.SUPER SECRET HILL. Okay so if you are looking out at the horizon from the top of the Horizon Parking Garage, you’ll notice a pretty large hill to the South near the rock quarry. The hill is on private property, and going up it requires climbing over a barbed-wire fence, but the view from the top is pretty spectacular. (Here is a link to the Google Coordinates if you are curious)(once again I don’t encourage trespassing)Noteworthy Seasonal EventsThe State FairThe Greek FestivalPride Festival on Main St.Boo at the ZooLocal Haunted Houses before Halloween (Most are really well done! Especially the one on 12th St. in Cayce)New Brookland Tavern’s Halloween Costume Party - I’ve been twice now and both years it was absolute chaos! (in the best way) Most of the people there are the artsy/creative/eccentric people in Columbia who love dressing up and having fun with minimal judgement/drama.Christmas lights at Saluda Shoals parkThe Cayce Christmas Parade and Float contestFinlay Park Summer Concert SeriesAMF Park Lanes Summer Specials for College Students (They give you like 1 free game every day)Palmetto Falls Water Park at Ft. Jackson (open to the public)Zipline over the Congaree River - Offered by Riverbanks ZooNew Years Eve festival on Main St. with Fireworks over the Statehouse (I recommend getting an exclusive ticket to Bourbon’s yearly cocktail party for Unlimited cocktails, normally $12-$15 each, amazing food, and VIP access to a venue right in front of the stage) (They aren’t paying me to say this, I just really loved my experience with them).Outdoor Ice Skating on Main St. during winter, in front of the Columbia Museum of ArtHot Air Balloon Ride with Captain TelegramThis is all I can think of off the top of my head. There is always something fun to do in Columbia if you are creative and get out and explore a bit :)

In spite of the way it is taught to us today - the Declaration did not become as important as it is today - until after the Revolution was over - and the war with England had become a civil war between the Tories and the Rebels -I’m not saying that it was not important as a statement (a reply to England) at the time - but - in the aftermath of the bloody fighting (which continued long after Yorktown - just not with the British Army) - America needed something to unite it - (a birthday celebration) -So - they went back and found the Declaration - and dusted it off -John Adams had persuaded the ‘Committee of Five’ - selected to draft the broadside statement (John Adams - Thomas Jefferson - Benjamin Franklin - Roger Sherman - and Robert Livingston) - to ask Jefferson to do the original draft -Now - a ‘broadside statement’ was - essentially - a poster - printed on one side (which is - essentially - what the Declaration is) - proclaiming to the world their reasons (as Colonies) from seceding from the British Empire -but the ‘broadside’ (that became known as the Declaration of Independence) - was intended to accompany the Lee Resolution (moved in Congress by Richard Henry Lee on June 7th -The actual ‘Declaration of American Independence’ is - more precisely - the text that comprises only the final paragraph of the published ‘broadside’ (which simply repeats the text of the Lee Resolution (which was adopted on July the 2nd by a ‘declaratory resolve’ vote -So - actually - it was the Lee Resolution that declared our independence - (the Declaration - penned by Jefferson - merely explained it) -Because the Committee of Five’ did not leave any minutes concerning their deliberations - there is a bit of uncertainty as to how the drafting process proceeded -(and the accounts written by Jefferson and Adams - many years later - although they are frequently cited - they are also contradictory to one another - and are not considered to be entirely reliable) -But - what we do have is Jefferson’s original draft - and the notes added (primarily by Adams and Franklin) - after Jefferson consulted the committee about his original draft - which reviewed it - and made some extensive changes - which Jefferson - then - incorporated into a new draft -But - look closely - and you will discover that Jefferson himself had borrowed heavily from other writings - and the ideas of a number of sources (among them - John Locke and George Mason) -The draft was then presented to the ‘Committee of the Whole’ (essentially - the Continental Congress) - on June 28th -It was voted on - and approved - (along with the Lee Resolution) on the afternoon of July the 2nd - at which time it was given a second reading -In spite of Trumbull’s famous painting - (which I believe still hangs in the Capital Building - and is reproduced on the back of the $2 bill) - the document was - by and large - sent through the mail - and signed separately - and certainly not at one time - in one room -On July the 3rd - (a Wednesday) - there was a third reading - and - Congress - (being Congress) - they began to scrutinize the precise wording of the proposed text of Jefferson’s draft -And - by and large - they left the document’s text intact - but they did eliminate two passages - (one that made a critical reference to the English people [there was a feeling among some that they still had friends in England that might be worth keeping - and they did not wish to unnecessarily burn their bridges] - and a second that denounced the ‘slave trade’ - and slavery itself) -But - Congress (being Congress) - they - then - scheduled another meeting the next day (July the 4th) - to further scrutinize the ‘precise wording’ of Jefferson’s text - with an eye to improving upon it -Now - they had - up to this point - been meeting in secrecy (behind closed doors and windows) - but early July in Philadelphia was quite hot -So - they opened the windows of their meeting room on the second floor - to let in some air -Unfortunately - they also let in a swarm of ‘horseflies’ from the stable across the street - and the ‘horseflies’ proceeded to bite the members - vociferously -So - under the circumstances - (with discretion being the better part of valor) - the members decided that Jefferson’s wording of the text was perfectly fine - so they approved it - and adjourned - and fled the room -But - because of this - years later - when they dusted off the ‘declaration’ - it bore the date of July the 4th (their last - aborted meeting date) - which is why we celebrate the 4th of July as our nation’s birthday - instead of the 2nd -even though John Adams fully expected that it would be the 2nd of July that we would celebrate (as he wrote to his wife on July the 3rd) -“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”Now - the greater irony involved in this is that much is made of the fact that both Adams and Jefferson died on the 4th of July (in 1826) - when - of all people - Adams and Jefferson were acutely aware that the vote was taken on the 2nd - and that the only thing that really happened on the 4th was the ‘Battle of the Horseflies’ - (which they lost - or - at least - after which - they declared victory - and fled) -But - to your question -Jefferson is considered the sole author - because he - primarily - was -Franklin and Adams added ‘edits’ (important ones) - but - Jefferson wrote the draft that incorporated them -And - as to the changes that Congress made - (that dismayed Jefferson) - they were not ‘additions’ - they were ‘subtractions’ from what Jefferson wrote - leaving Jefferson the primary author of what they left behind -

Top 12 unusual places in St. Petersburg that you need to see at least once in your life1) Winter Canal Embankment2) St. Petersburg Buddhist Temple3) Rotunda on Gorokhovaya4) Belfry of Smolny Cathedral5) Republics of cats6) Street art museum7) Vitebsky Station8) Bolsheokhtinsky bridge9) Doctor Pely Pharmacy10) Necropolis Museum of Urban Sculpture11) Eliseevsky shop12) Botanical Garden Water Conservatory1) We suggest starting with a walk along the embankment of the Winter Canal. This is one of the shortest canals in the city. Its length is 228 meters and the width does not exceed 20 meters. It is located in the very center of the Northern capital, near the Winter Palace, and connects the rivers - the Big Neva and the Moika.It was dug in 1718-1719, the work was supervised by the famous builder-contractor Vasily Ozerov. This part of the embankment became one of the first stone embankments in the city. By 1787, a three-story building of the Hermitage Theater and the Great Hermitage were built on 2 opposite banks of the canal. Two buildings at the level of the 2nd floor were connected by a passage resting on a powerful arch thrown over a groove.In 1782-1784, the embankment grooves were chained to the city’s traditional granite and decorated with strict lattices. The canal received its first name in 1738 - the Old Palace Canal, but in fact it was not used. People called the canal Zimnedomsky, Zimneredvortsovym or simply Winter. Since 1768, the right bank was called Postal Street, since nearby, on the current Millionnaya Street, was the Postal Courtyard. The modern name has been known since 1801.The first wooden drawbridge was thrown over the canal in 1718-1720, immediately after the channel was dug at the Winter Palace of Peter the Great according to the Dutch model. Now 3 bridges are thrown over the Winter Canal: 1st Winter (on Millionnaya St.), 2nd Winter (on the Moika Embankment) and the Hermitage (on Palace Embankment), the former Winter Palace.The first Winter and Hermitage bridges were built in the 18th century, and the Hermitage Bridge became the first stone bridge in St. Petersburg. The second Winter bridge was built in the 1960s, It was built specially according to the old style, so as not to destroy the atmosphere of Pushkin Petersburg.The small channel is famous for its musical and cinematic interest. In his opera Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky “The Queen of Spades”, in the 3rd act introduces an element of the plot, which is absent in the eponymous novel by Pushkin. It became the original literary version of the musical work.This applies to the moment when the heroine of the composer Lisa throws herself from the Hermitage Bridge into the waters of the Winter Canal, as Herman, who is obsessed with 3 maps, runs away from her. Tchaikovsky did it under the influence of the real fact of the suicide of a certain Julia Perova, who committed on this site on the basis of unhappy love. That fact was described in one of the Petersburg newspapers of 1868. It is known that in 1890 Pyotr Ilyich sent a newspaper clipping to his brother Modest with a request to include Lisa's suicide in the libretto of the opera. Therefore, you can hear the second name of this bridge - "Lisa Bridge".Also, the Zimnyaya Kanova embankment fell into the film of A. Balabanov's "Brother" when the protagonist Danila Bagrov walks around the city upon arrival in St. Petersburg and walks along Millionnaya Street, crossing the Zimnaya Canal. If you like this film, and you want to "remember" everything on your feet, you can see it again with your eyes, but changed and modern after 20 years.address: metro station admiralteyskaya embankment of the winter groove2) Datsan Gunzechoynei ", it is the name of this Buddhist temple in St. Petersburg, translated from the Tibetan" Gunzechoynei "means the source of the holy teachings of the All-Compassionate, Hermit Master. It is the northernmost Buddhist temple in the world. It belongs to the Buddhist traditional sangha of Russia, Gelugpa school.It is also one of the most expensive Buddhist temples in Europe. The dasan in St. Petersburg was built from chipped granite and from many other valuable materials. The temple is a monumental work of art, also famous for the chic stained glass windows that Nicholas Roerich made. On them, the artist depicted 8 good Buddhist symbols.From the chronicles you can learn that the first Buddhists on the banks of the Neva were the Volga Kalmyks, subjects of the Kalmyk Khanate, which became part of Russia in 1609. During the construction of the Peter and Paul Fortress, with which St. Petersburg was erected, Buddhists worked hard with other workers, and lived nearby, in the Tatar settlement, located behind the crown cover, in the area of ​​the present Bolshaya Spasskaya Street.However, in later sources of the XVIII - mid XIX centuries there is no mention of the Kalmyks, or representatives of the Buddhist denomination living here. The Buddhist community in St. Petersburg began to form at the end of the 19th century.In 1900, the representative of the Dalai Lama XIII in Russia - Aghvan Dorzhiev received permission to build a church in St. Petersburg. In 1909, Dorzhiev bought a plot of land on the northern outskirts of the city, on the banks of Little Nevka. The project was developed in accordance with the canons of Tibetan architecture in 1909, student of the Institute of Civil Engineers N. M. Berezovsky and architect G. V. Baranovsky - the author of the project Eliseevsky deli on Nevsky Prospekt.Construction was carried out in the years 1909 -1915. The first Buddhist service took place in 1913 in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. For the temple, King Siam Rama the Fifth presented a statue of Buddha. The consecration of Datsan took place in the capital on August 10, 1915. Not a very good fate befell Datsan and his ministers at the beginning of Soviet power and during the Great Patriotic War. The temple was closed, and the building was transferred to the possession of athletes.Datsan gets into the plot of the story "The Old Woman", written by Daniel Harms in 1939. When the hero travels in a commuter train from Finland Station to the Lisiy Nos station and tells what he sees from the window:We drive through Lanskaya and Novaya Village. The golden top of the Buddhist pagoda flickers, and the sea appears.During World War II, a military radio station was built in the church. She remained in the building until the 1960s and was used as a “jammer”. In 1960, Yu. N. Roerich and a number of other orientalists achieved that the building should be transferred to the Academy of Sciences. Then there were laboratories of the Zoological Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.Only in 1968 the temple was declared an architectural monument of local importance. In 1990, the decision of the executive committee of the Leningrad City Council was transferred to the Central Spiritual Administration of Buddhists of the USSR. In 1991, the temple received its modern name - Datsan Gunzechoynei, the Tibetan name given to him during the consecration.After 3 years, the new burkhan of the Big Buddha Shakyamuni, made by Mongolian masters in the traditional Mongolian style - from papier-mâché, with the subsequent coating of the figure with gold leaf, was installed in the main altar of the temple. Since then, Datsan has been visited by Tibetan and Western teachers. Within its walls they give lectures on Buddhist philosophy, as well as special teachings and initiations to the laity. They also conduct meditation retreats, which, according to the teachings of Buddhists, serve as a practice for accumulating good merit and a way of self-knowledge.Buddhist monks regularly perform prayers for the well-being of the living and for the best rebirth of the dead. In addition, astrologers and Tibetologists, specialists in the field of traditional Tibetan medicine, conduct receptions in the community.Address: metro station m. "Staraya detevnya", Primorsky Prospect, 913) The famous Rotunda is an unusual front door of an ordinary-looking house No. 57 on Gorokhovaya Street, which is considered almost the most mystical place in the Northern capital. A house with a rotunda is also known as the house of Yakovlev, or the house of A.F. Evmentiev.The story about the architectural features of this house should not begin with the building itself, but with Gorokhovaya Street. This highway is the central axis of the classic St. Petersburg "trident", one of those "perspectives" on which the "lead" system of the imperial capital was built.In accordance with the original plan, the axial street was emphasized by the dominant - the admiralty spire and small half-areas at the intersection of the highway with river embankments. Half-areas are considered the work of the famous Russian urban planner of the XVIII century A.V. Kvasova.Houses in such a grandiose composition are minor details. The house with the rotunda was built by the architect Ferri de Pigny at the turn of the 1770-1780s’. The rotundanot only blends perfectly with the general architecture of the building, but also features a beautiful spiral staircase, which makes it possible to circumambulate and smoothly climb in a spectacular geometrically verified space.For classical architecture, the rotunda, located in the inside of the house, in the center of the architectural composition, is a characteristic decor. In addition, the combination of a circle and a rectangle in plan is one of the architectural archetypes. It is here that the roots of the mystical history of the building sprout. The magnificent park arbor, hidden from the eyes of passers-by and built into an unremarkable house, certainly gives rise to a lot of myths and legends.Address: Sadovaya metro station, Gorokhovaya street, 574) The belfry of Smolny Cathedral is one of the best viewing platforms in St. Petersburg. The height of the cathedral is 93 meters. And you can look at the sights of St. Petersburg from a 50-meter height. Tourists are attracted not only by the observation deck, but also by what they hear and see, breaking 277 steps up. Baroque music sounds during the ascent, and “along the way” you can see the masonry from the time of Rastrelli.According to the layout of the ensemble of the Smolny Monastery, which is stored in the Museum of the Academy of Arts, the bell tower should have been erected 140 meters high. It would have been 18 meters higher than the height of the spire of the bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, and could have become the tallest building in Europe.The first tier of the bell tower should have looked like a triumphal arch, the main entrance to the monastery, the second - the gate church, and in the remaining 3 belfries should have been located. The bell tower was to be completed by a small turret with 4 round windows and a crown crowning it with a cross.But these plans were not destined to be realized. Rastrelli began to erect Smolny on the orders of Empress Elizabeth in 1748. Thanks to the completed layout, the architect realized the mistake and retained the dominant influence of the only buildings of the cathedral itself. And he became for the townspeople a very unusual creation and an outstanding work of art, for the author a kind of symbol of the violation of European traditions. This time, a master who worked in baroque combined in this masterpiece the baroque elements of overseas architecture with Russian architectural delights, folk identities and the ancient culture of Russia, which makes the latter look incredibly solemn and elegant.Even the ardent opponent of Bartolomeo Rastrelli, Giacomo Quarenghi, an adherent of the baroque style, the author of the strict Smolny Institute, a supporter of classicism, and perhaps the most prolific representative of Palladianism in Russian architecture, admired the Smolny Cathedral. And whenever this architect and Vedutist of Italian descent passed by his rival’s brainchild, he always took off his hat, pronouncing with genuine admiration: “This is a temple!”You can admire the colorful Smolny today, as well as the beautiful city on the Neva from a bird's flight, climbing the cathedral belfry. Conquering the height of Smolny, getting to its observation deck, is so easy. Why? It’s calmer and more spacious, fewer people, and the review can’t be expressed in words how good it is, and you can look at everything well here with the help of free binoculars, for example, the Petrograd side, and it’s incredibly nice to see how ships navigate the Neva, how beautiful and restless Petersburg is.Address: metro station "Chernyshevskaya", Rastrelli Square, 15) Cotocultural center appeared in the Northern capital in 2008. In Vsevolozhsk, on the basis of the Elvet veterinary clinic, the Cat Museum was opened, which has become a vivid attraction of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. Today it can be called a big tourist cat-mecca. The museum and its branches implement the project of Yuri Kuklachev "School of Kindness".The first kotokafe (cat cafe) in Russia and Europe was opened in St. Petersburg in 2011 - "The Republic of Cats", which is located on Yakubovich 10. This is the center of the Kotokulturnaya capital of the country and a branch of the first Cat Museum in Russia. You can come here for cat therapy, where you will find yourself in the company of 25 cats of 17 breeds, including the Hermitage cats. You can: stroke, take pictures, play with them. This is the most beautiful place for cat lovers, and tourists come here from all over Russia and the world.The "Republic of Cats" is located on Liteiny Prospekt 60. The institution is positioning itself as the largest cat-cafe in Europe, in which up to 60 cats and cats live at the same time. Visit time - unlimited, admission for a voluntary donation (donation). It is also a concert venue, a place for seminars, master classes and children's events in the company of cats.The city on the Neva became the Cotocultural capital. St. Petersburg has acquired new symbols of the city - cats. Before entering the arch at the “Republic of Cats” on Liteiny, another monumental symbol of the city will soon appear: “The Cat in the Sack”, the creation of which is currently being carried out by the sculptural father of Funtika, Semyon Platonov.The fact is that 2 years earlier in the very center of the Northern capital, not far from St. Isaac’s Cathedral, near the “Republic of Cats” on Yakubovich Street, a bronze figurine of the kitten “Funtika” was installed, the fruit of love “Elisha” and “Vasilisa” from Malaya Sadovaya streets. The author of the monument, as mentioned above, was the sculptor Semyon Platonov, and, now, the idea belonged to the historian Sergei Lebedev."Funtik" is known for fulfilling children's desires. It is installed at a height accessible to the smallest children, it can be stroked and scratched behind the ear just like a real kitten. In gratitude for this, Funtik fulfills the wishes that the kids make, they only need to whisper cherished dreams in his ear. Also there is another sculptural cat-masterpiece: the keeper of republican cats - "Cat Basil".The new cat-symbol of the Northern capital - "Puss in a Poke" will serve people faithfully. He can be admired, and also, which is important for Petersburgers, he can be told about all his desires. “Puss in a poke” will sensitively listen to each of its guests, regardless of age, and will try to fulfill any even the most ambitious and financial dreams.Address: Admiralteyskaya metro station, st. Yakubovich, 10metro station "Mayakovskaya", Liteiny ave., 606) The Museum of Street Art is located on the territory of existing production in the east of St. Petersburg. It was opened in 2012. Famous artists of our time have already visited and left his creations in his workshops. This is a new format of museums, including street type.Unlike the usual gallery, the exposition is located on the territory of the conserved industrial zone. Here you will not find classic exhibits under glass or in a shop window, as we see in a traditional museum space. Compared to a street museum, which is usually subject to a common theme, here you can look at various works.In this museum, each exhibit is self-sufficient, unique in its own way, with its own history and even character. All of them are exhibited in the open air, and most importantly, of enormous size, there are exhibits the height of a whole house. The collection is constantly updated and updated. One of the reasons why creative people like to come here often is to see the novelty for joy.Each new visit gives as many unexpected and pleasant surprises as a first-time visit. The territory of the museum is divided into two zones - a permanent exhibition, which is located in the area of ​​the existing production of the “Laminated Plastics Plant”. Here is an annually updated collection of monumental murals by contemporary street artists. The second zone is a public venue where temporary exhibitions are shown to guests, and various events are held here.address: metro station Ladozhskaya, 84 Revolution Highway (entrance from Industrial Avenue)7) From this station, the history of Russian railways began. Vitebsky Station - the oldest of the 5 stations in St. Petersburg, the very first station in Russia. From here in 1837 the first train went to Tsarskoye Selo. The station today takes from there and sends electric trains there. Want to visit Tsarskoye Selo? Of course, Tsarskoye Selo - a museum-reserve should be visited at least once in a lifetime. First, take a good look at this unique and ancient station, and immediately go on an excursion to the city of Pushkin, where you can visit the Museum-Lyceum of A.S. Pushkin, where the Tsarskoye Selo with the famous Catherine Palace and its delightful Amber Room, with magnificent parks, etc..Start exploring the Vitebsk station. At first, there was an ordinary one-story wooden building, which made it a small station, as in some provincial town. But Petersburg was still the capital. And no good, the authorities thought. And in 1849-1852 a solid stone building was built on this site according to the project of the architect K.A. Ton, the author of the Moscow station. The construction was done in a classic style. Years later, it fell into oblivion.In 1904, according to the project of academician of architecture S. A. Brzhozovsky, a huge station complex in the "modern" style was erected in its place. To this day, the Vitebsky Station is not inferior in beauty and grandeur to its European railway "brothers." In its decor, you can see openwork lattices, various modernist delights, many unique architectural elements, sometimes differing from classical St. Petersburg.Now all this can not but arouse admiration, and in those days, at the beginning of the last century - as everything here was a curiosity. The station is equipped with all modern technical means. Vitebsky Station is loved by filmmakers. He got into the frames of such films as “The Twentieth Century Begins”, “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”, “Station for Two”, “Brother”.AddressPushkinskaya metro station ", Zagorodny prospekt, 528) Bridges of St. Petersburg is a separate huge novel in the history of the glorious city on the Neva which not surprisingly is called the city of bridges. To see them all - about 300, you need to live here for more than one year.During sightseeing in the Northern capital, it is impossible not to admire the most famous of them - Palace Bridge and Trinity Bridge. And we want to focus your attention on this unique crossing, first of all, on the most charming - Peter the Great Bridge - Bolsheokhtinsky Bridge.Many tourists find in it and in its surroundings a resemblance to the London surroundings. It was not without reason that in 1983 part of the bridge fell into the scenes “Treasures of Agra” from the series “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson”. Filmmakers were able to convince domestic audiences that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were chasing criminal Jonathan Small on the Thames in London.Also in 2013, scenes from the film "I Make a Decision" were shot at the bridge. In 2015-2016, on the Bolsheokhtinsky bridge and its environs, they shot the 2nd season of the series Major. But most importantly, why you need to see him at least once in your life, suddenly you are lucky. According to legend, one of the rivets in the construction of the Bolsheokhtinsky bridge is gold. No one has yet found her.AddressChernyshevskaya metro station, Bolsheokhtinsky bridge9) Some consider the "Doctor Peel Pharmacy" not only ancient, but also strange, some as the most mysterious and mystical, as a whole, picturesque corner of history in St. Petersburg. In reality, the pharmacy building looks authentic, inside - at least, everything breathes in the past and is full of rarity.Here you can see old appliances from Pel’s workshop, a bulky telephone, funny cones and leather chairs from those times, etc.. This is a place where you can endlessly examine various historical exhibits. Among them there is a stuffed crocodile. The logo itself with a black silhouette of the owner, in whose honor the pharmacy was named, is quite mesmerizing in the cylinder.But let's start all over again. This drugstore appeared in the capital on Bolshaya Meshchanskaya in 1760. Here, its grand opening took place. And she was called differently. In 1770, pharmacist Aric moved her to the 7th line of Vasilievsky Island, where she is to this day.The pharmacy had several owners. In 1850, it was acquired by Vasily Vasilievich Pel. Then at once she was given the name of the new owner, and she is called the "Pelya Pharmacy" from then until today. Pel was seriously engaged in his favorite business: he transformed a pharmacy laboratory, introduced quality control of raw materials, and created a warehouse of benign drugs.In 1867, even Pel founded the Russian Society for the Sale of Pharmaceutical Goods. Since 1871, he serves as a reliable supplier of medicines to the imperial court. After the death of Pel, the son continued the work of the father, in the future the pharmacy was managed by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Vasily Vasilyevich.However, during the Soviet era, the laboratory and the factory did not work in the pharmacy. She was given another name - "Andreevskaya", which was understandable, since it was opposite the Andreevsky market. In the Great Patriotic War, the pharmacy did not close, oddly enough, but no matter how scary it was, because shells were aiming at it, and yet it hit the building and inflicted damage on it.Alas, in 2005 there was a fire in it. Fortunately, in 2010 the oldest drugstore was restored, and in the same year it was already serving customers. Since 2011, excursions have been held at the Doctor Peel Pharmacy, and she annually participates in the Museum Night project."Doctor Pelya's Pharmacy" is located in the house 16-18 on the 7th line of Vasilyevsky Island, but the building was not such when VV Pelyu got it. In 1858, houses were combined. In 1907, a corner house was built on, as well as floors: 3rd, 4th, 5th and attic. In 1910, the facade was decorated in the contemporarily modern style. Thanks to these reconstructions, the name of Professor Pelya Vasily Vasilyevich and his descendants went down in the history of St. Petersburg. On top it all you should be intrigued even more. As they say briefly on a page in a group:A new series is being shot at Doctor Pehl's Pharmacy! "Silence. Camera. Get started!"AddressMetro station "Vasileostrovskaya", 7th line V.O.10) The Necropolis of the Museum of Urban Sculpture is the Necropolis of the 18th century and the Necropolis of Artists. The necropolis of the 18th century and the Necropolis of art masters are important sights of St. Petersburg, where they come to pay tribute to the great figures of the past.In the XVIII century Necropolis a unique collection of works of memorial art of the XVIII - XX centuries. Here you can see the monuments to famous writers and scientists: M. V. Lomonosov, D. I. Fonvizin; architect: A.N. Voronikhin, J. Tom de Tomon, D. Quarenghi, K.I. Rossi; sculptors, political and military figures, as well as many other famous Petersburgers - in total more than 1000 monuments. The Lazarev tomb contains more than 80 tombstones, including monuments to prominent figures in Russian history :: B.P. Sheremetev, I.A. Hannibal, F.P. Uvarov.Artists come to the Necropolis to pay tribute to musicians and artists, poets and actors. There are memorials to M. I. Glinka and P. I. Tchaikovsky, N. M. Karamzin and F. M. Dostoevsky, I. I. Shishkin and I. N. Kramsky, V. F. Komissarzhevskaya and G. A. Tovstonogov and about 200 other artists. An exhibition dedicated to the monumental sculpture of St. Petersburg has been placed in the exhibition hall on the territory of the Necropolis, temporary exhibitions are held here.This complex also includes Narva Gate and Anikushin's workshop. The necropolis was founded at the beginning of the 19th century, when there was no more space in the old cemetery at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. It was here that many famous cultural figures of the 19th century were buried. Unfortunately, in the 30s of the XX century, some graves were destroyed.Address and opening hoursMetro station "Alexander Nevsky Square", Nevsky pr., 179Necropolis of the XVIII century: 9: 30–18 :: 00, seven days a weekNecropolis of Masters of the Arts: 9: 30–21: 00, Thu - from 9:30 to 18:0011) In the very heart of St. Petersburg, on its main highway - Nevsky Prospekt, opposite the Catherine’s Garden there is a legendary deli known throughout the world. His story is amazing. In 1812, on one of the magical and frosty Christmas evenings, Count Sheremetev’s serf gardener, Peter Eliseev, presented the guests with a dish of freshly grown strawberries.All those present were so amazed at the fresh, sweet and fragrant berry in the winter that the Count was ready to fulfill any desire of his faithful servant and talented gardener. Sheremetyev asked Eliseev what he wants for this charm. Eliseev quickly answered: "Freedom." The count kept his word, although it was a pity to lose the brilliant gardener. He gave freedom to Peter. "And a hundred rubles ... for the establishment," - at the request of Princess Dolgoruky, who was present at the evening. A 100 rubles of lifting - a lot of money at that time. For comparison, a good mansion could be built for them.Without hesitation, in fear that the count would not change his mind, Peter Eliseev took his whole family with his belongings and went to conquer the capital. He immediately bought a bag of oranges, went to Nevsky Prospect and began to trade. After 90 years, his descendants in the same place opened a grocery store, glorifying the family name for centuries.The building was designed by one of the largest architects and public figures of the late XIX - early XX centuries - G.V. Baranovsky. In the Soviet era, the "Eliseevsky" store "on Nevsky Prospekt 56 was renamed as" Grocery Store No. 1 ". However almost no one called it that; among the people, it still remained Eliseevsky.Since then, the "Shop of the Merchants Eliseevs" has always been a refined atmosphere and luxurious interior. Today it is restored from photographs of 1903. In addition to the luxury of decoration in the deli, you can see all kinds of inimitable delights, most importantly, here you can buy: various fish, meat delicacies, confectionery and alcoholic beverages, any gastronomic works of art and indescribable goodies.A cafe is open for Petersburgers and city guests on the Neva River, where they enjoy coffee with dessert and the atmosphere of the early 20th century. In the "Shop of merchants Eliseev" it is pleasant to be and make purchases. Eliseevsky grocery store is easy to find. It differs on Nevsky with its colorful showcase and striking design. Locals love the local delicious and fragrant pastries, eclairs - melting in your mouth. What is more many there you can purchse many other culinary masterpieces that you really can not see in other stores of the Northern capital.Address and opening hoursGostiny Dvor metro station, Nevsky pr., 56/8Daily from 10:00 to 23:0012) In summer, the Botanical Garden opens for visitors one of the "pearls of a blossoming museum" - the Victorian Orangery. It was revived and received the first visitors, connoisseurs of beauty in 2015. For winter, the water route is closed - it is exclusively a summer pleasure.The Victorian greenhouse was arranged in the garden over 100 years ago. Its highlight is the pool - one of the largest greenhouse reservoirs in the world. Under the glass dome stretched the water surface of the pool, where you can see wonderful lotuses and several types of giant water lilies. Also, guests are shown rhizophores, pandanuses, sugarcane, water hyacinth, Egyptian lotus, rice and much more. Making water routes, participants in walks in the greenhouse observe the beautiful flowering of lotuses, which lasts all summer. Garden employees write:In St. Petersburg, lotuses can bloom. Is this not evidence that anything is possible?In the water conservatory you can admire the largest water lily in the world - Victoria of the Amazon. Its homeland is the water elements of the Amazon and Lake Titicaca. This beautiful water flower was named after the British Queen Victoria. The diameter of round leaves is about 2 meters. And withstand capable floating saucer weight up to 50 kilograms. So, not only an inch or a child, but also a teenager, or even a small one, a thin adult can calmly sit on a "flower", or even swim.Address and opening hoursMetro station "Petrogradskaya", st. Professor Popov, 2Tue-Sun 10: 00-16: 30″© Необычные места в Петербурге, которые нужно увидеть хотя бы раз в жизни