When I was asked to write this bit about Greenville I protested: "I'm not a writer; I'm not even on the editorial staff!"
  "Yes, but you love Greenville." they responded. True, I do love Greenville. I love the Reedy River, the Peace Center, Coffee Street, the Fairgrounds - especially during a balloon launch or a fireworks display. Greenville is my New York City - and I won't try to explain that.
  Back to the Reedy River. Downtown Greenville is blessed with nature's diversion, the Reedy River. It flows over two beautiful waterfalls almost directly under Main Street. Greenvillians' respect for nature prompted them to build a lovely park along the banks of the Reedy. Lined with some very attractive office buildings from which much of the humanity spills every noon to lunch by the Reedy, the whole scene is typical of Greenville and the attitude of its people.
  But the Reedy is much more than a pretty oasis in the middle of a bustling city; it is history. This is where Greenville started, and Pleasantburg (its forerunner) and the Indian villages before that. Greenville's industry started here because of the availability of waterpower from the River. Greenville was to become the 'textile center of the world'.
  They built the Peace Center on the south bank of the Reedy. An exquisitely designed performing arts center, it has the best seating I've seen anywhere. I've watched operas and ice skating shows, stand-up comics and stand-down orators. You can park across the street for a small fee or two blocks away for free (I choose 'free'.).

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  Walk up South Main from the Peace Center and sniff the restaurants as you pass - many with tables on the sidewalks. Then turn right on Coffee Street (I LOVE that name) and stop in for a cup of hot chocolate and chocolate pie (there went my diet - but who cares).
  Want to buy something? Tired of hearing the excuse, "…they don't make that any more…"? You can buy it in Greenville. Stores that match your imagination in downtown or to the rush of excitement at the Haywood mall a few miles away via I-385. Yes, I brag about Haywood Mall to be met with, "…we've got a much bigger mall at …" Yeah, but it ain't Haywood Mall. I've been to Minneapolis and seen theirs when it was the world's biggest - and it doesn't have that warm, comfortable feel of Haywood Mall. Maybe it is the friendly atmosphere, the smiles, the sincere desire to be truly helpful.
  Okay, so what else is there? Visit CarolinaNow.com and get introduced to camping, cycling, equestrian trails, fishing or just lollygagging in a pontoon boat on a nearby lake. Gardens and Golfing are two more approaches to enjoying the Greenville area's outdoors and both are well represented. Or just take a drive along the 100+ mile Cherokee Scenic Highway (SC-11) and maybe sneak a peek at the Campbell covered bridge while in the neighborhood.
  I told them this would be more than 170 words - and they promised to let me. Come and enjoy my Greenville!

contributed by Zzyvko Marjanovitch