6AM City In-house

Your Etsy gift guide (localized) 🎁

Win the holidays with gifts from these local Etsy sellers
Etsy coasters
These stylish coasters can’t wait for you to gift them. | Photo via Etsy
Pop quiz, Columbia. What’s better than shopping local? For 100 points: Shopping local from the comfort of your own home, of course. Not only is it one of the best ways to support the local economy, but locally-crafted gifts tend to wow during the holidays (a big win in our book).

To kickstart your holiday shopping, we’ve rounded up 15 products we love from local Etsy shops — some of which hold the coveted Star Seller badge that’s given to sellers who consistently earn 5-star reviews, ship orders on time, and provide great customer service, aka less holiday stress for you.

Psst — Some of these items may sell out quickly due to limited quantities. Click on the link to the Etsy seller’s page to find something similar.

🎁 Under $25

Be kind to your mind tote bag ($17) | Give the gift of kindness to your greenest friends with this handmade, reusable, recyclable bag. | Shop Tote Ally

Decorative decoupaged oyster shells ($10) | Select a pattern or create a new one for these painted shells with gold trimming. | SC Salty Shop

🎁 $25-$50

DIY craft jewelry kit ($25+) | Give this kit to the creatives in your family to make beaded jewelry with tassel add-ons. | Woman Shops World — Star Seller ⭐

Chicago lunchroom butter cookies ($30+) | Gift quantities of up to four dozen of these classic holiday treats. | Bake the Old Fashion Way — Star Seller ⭐

Puffin 100% organic cotton hat ($26) | 10% of the proceeds of this hat are donated to a different environmental charity each month. | Stay Out There

Etsy wooden coffee tray

This bathtub tray doubles as a coffee table tray. | Photo via Etsy

🎁 $50-$100

Jackie Kennedy pearl earrings ($75) | These vintage beauties are surrounded by simulated diamonds. | SC Lady Di Jewelry — Star Seller ⭐

Wooden bathtub tray ($95+) | Select a stain color and size for this tray made of pine wood. | Shop Mea Home — Star Seller ⭐
8 MORE IDEAS
Lowes Foods

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Thursday, Nov. 24
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands Turkey Day 5K | 1K Family Fun Run | Thursday, Nov. 24 | 9-11 a.m. | Colonial Life Arena, 801 Lincoln St, Columbia | $10-$35 | Start your Thanksgiving at Columbia’s 18th Annual Turkey Day 5K + 1K Family Fun Run.
  • Holiday Lights on the River | Thursday, Nov. 24-Saturday, Dec. 31 | 6-10 p.m. | Saluda Shoals Park East, 6071 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia | $25 | After Thanksgiving dinner, head to the holiday lights to sing along with the radio station that synchronizes with the holiday lights.
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 4D debut | Thursday, Nov. 24-Sunday, Jan. 1 | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St, Columbia | $11.95-$13.95 | The classic animation shines in an all-new, immersive 4-D Experience® (think: chilling air blasts, snow + more) at the South Carolina State Museum for the holidays.*
Friday, Nov. 25
  • Mannheim Steamroller | Friday, Nov. 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St, Columbia | $45-$65 | Experience the music that has become the hallmark of the holidays and a tradition for multi-generational families.
  • 6th Annual Toys 4 Tots Featuring Patrick Davis | Friday, Nov. 25 | 8:30 p.m. | The Senate, 1022 Senate St, Columbia | $38 | Patrick Davis and His Midnight Choir is playing at the 6th Annual Thanksgiving Weekend Toys 4 Tots Show.
  • Shandon Turkey Trot & Burn 5K | Friday, Nov. 25 | 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | 607 Woodrow St, Columbia | $35 | Shandon Neighborhood Council invites you to Join them on Black Friday for a community race.
Saturday, Nov. 26
  • Ninth Annual Holiday Market & Christmas Craft Show | Saturday, Nov. 26 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Cobblestone Park Golf Club , 1298 University Parkway, Blythewood | Free | The amenity center will be filled with vendors from across South Carolina selling their handmade goods and crafts.
Sunday, Nov. 27
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
Columbia Metropolitan Airport

Weather
  • 63º | Mostly cloudy | 6% chance of rain
Coming Soon
  • Sweet GG’s Bakery is coming soon to Five Points. The bakery that makes custom cakes, pastries, and desserts was formally located on Fort Jackson Boulevard but will now be near Bluetile Skateboards (631B Harden St.). An opening date hasn’t been announced. 🎂 (The Post and Courier)
Deal
  • It’s your lucky day. Tomorrow through Cyber Monday, you can buy your 41st Annual St. Pat’s in Five Points tickets for just $10. It never hurts to plan ahead, and it certainly never hurts to get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit. 🍀
Number
  • 9. That’s the number of students from SCAD (The Savannah College of Art and Design) that were tasked with designing Colite City — a new development coming soon to West Columbia. Click here to read how the project proposal came together + exceeded expectations.
Holiday
  • Happy Thanksgiving. However you celebrate, make today a day of rest, reflection, and community. We here at COLAtoday are thankful for our city, and the fact that there’s always plenty to talk about — like the history of one of Columbia’s oldest restaurants. 🦃
Announced
  • If you love this newsletter (and supporting local) as much as we love strolls in Emily Douglass Dog Park, morning lattes from Curiosity Coffee Bar + Saturdays spent shopping at Rosewood Market (which is a lot) — we’ve got something for you: COLAtoday just launched a membership program. Learn more + sign up. 🎉
Number
  • 556,000. The estimated number of people in South Carolina who have diabetes (read: the sixth highest percentage of adults with diabetes in the nation). In recognition of Diabetes Awareness Month, Lexington Medical Center registered dietician + diabetes educator Kay MacInnis has 4 tips to manage diabetes or pre-diabetes.*
Health
  • Open enrollment for individual and family health insurance is now. Enrollment events are happening this week at Mega Insurance at 1004 Cermack St. in Columbia on Fri., Dec. 2 from 12 p.m.-7 p.m. and HealthMarkets at The Flight Deck Shoppes at 109 Old Chapin Rd in Lexington on Sat., Dec. 3 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.*
Award
  • Lou Kennedy, CEO and owner of Nephron Pharmaceuticals, received InnoVision’s 2022 Dr. Charles Townes Individual Achievement Award at the virtual InnoVision Awards Ceremony on Nov. 15. The award honors individuals who have exhibited a sustained commitment to the advancement of technology and the community through their technology-oriented and innovative contributions.*
Travel
  • Traveling for the holidays? Pro tip: Get bonus gas rewards when you buy participating items at Lowes Foods. Learn more.⛽ *
Shop
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Lexington Medical Center
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Sam.

Editor’s pick: Happy Thanksgiving, Cola. This weekend I plan to spend time with my family + soak in the fact that we are in the midst of the holiday season. Tomorrow, I may take a drive through Holiday Lights on the River — hot cocoa in hand — to see all of the synchronized lights dance to holiday music.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? See 40+ winter and holiday events happening around the Soda City, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Lindsey Rhinesmith| Advertise with us.

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