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Culture

Columbia’s Local Year in Search 2022 💻
Fall in Columbia, SC
Hey, we get it — dating can be scary, but you’re not alone. Unburden yourself and share a date story that still haunts you to this day. | Photo by COLAtoday
If you recently Googled “Pallas cats” or “Korean bbq” you aren’t alone.

In fact, the Pallas cat was Columbia’s top trending animal this year. Also, our city was one of only two places ( the other being Florence, SC) that had Korean bbq as a top trending “near me” search.

Google pulled together the Columbia area’s top trending searches from 2022 and we’re here to share the top five search results. Spoiler alert: We like our food trucks close and our gas prices cheap.

DYK — The Columbia, SC area searched for “food trucks near me” more than any other place in the U.S.?

As you sip on your newfound recipe for our area’s top trending recipe — a refreshing Aperol spritz — read through Cola’s Top 10 trending “near me” searches in 2022.

1. ⚠️ Earthquake near me
  • You weren’t the only ones who were shaken by earthquakes this year. We had so many, we decided to do our own research, and here’s what we found.
2. 🏡 Estate sales near me
3. 👗 Prom dresses near me
  • Have you heard of The Cinderella Project? Once a year, SC lawyers become fairy godmothers to young ladies in need of a perfect prom outfit. Read about the mission and how it works here.
4. ⛽️ Cheapest gas near me
5. 🚙 Gas prices near me
  • If you’re a fan of road-tripping around the Southeast, we’ve got you covered with our Hit The Road series. Bonus — It includes local car care and where you can find the cheapest gas in town.
Itching to know what else your neighbors have been Googling? Check out the full list of the Columbia area’s top 10 trending “near me” searches.
Lexington Medical Center

Click here to have your event featured.

Thursday, Dec. 15
  • Smoked Oyster Roast | Thursday, Dec. 15 | 6-9 p.m. | Smoked, 1643 Main St., Columbia | $75+ | Enjoy Peak Drift Beer, all-you-can-eat raw and chargrilled oysters, and live music.
  • The Bash | Thursday, Dec. 15-Saturday, Dec. 17 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Ridge View High School, 4801 Hardscrabble Rd., Columbia | $12-$50 | The Bash is an elite high school basketball tournament that consists of three nights of hoops with 13 teams from around the country.
Friday, Dec. 16
  • Visit with Santa at Mast General Store | Friday, Dec. 16 | 4-7 p.m. | 1601 Main St., Columbia | Before he harnesses up the reindeer team and takes his sleigh to the sky, be sure to pay him a visit with Santa at Mast General Store.
  • Weekend Holiday Market at NoMa Warehouse | Friday, Dec. 16-Sunday, Dec. 18 | 6-9 p.m. | NoMa Warehouse, 2222 Sumter St., Columbia | Free | A three-day holiday market full of Columbia’s best local vendors, delicious food, hot chocolate, spirits, live music and entertainment, and all of the holiday cheer you can imagine.
Saturday, Dec. 17
Sunday, Dec. 18
  • Winter Solstice Vendor Market | Sunday, Dec. 18 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost, 1211 Franklin St., Columbia | Free | Support several local businesses in one place, get some last-minute shopping taken care of, and enjoy live music from The Water Kickers while you do it.
  • Holiday Market | Sunday, Dec. 18 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | femme x COLUMBIA | Coworking Space, 1501 Richland St., Columbia | Come sip on hot cocoa, roast a s’more, and get some holiday shopping done.
We have a calendar filled with events and 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
EAT AND DRINK
 

Here’s PROOF that your holidays can be merry 🍹
PROOF Alcohol Ice Cream
Locally-made right here in Columbia, PROOF makes for a decadent frozen cocktail and also pairs well with pies, cakes, and brownies. | Photo by @hellofancymedia
Looking to make your holidays merrier? Enter: locally-made PROOF Alcohol Ice Cream.

With flavors like Bourbon Caramel, Pistachio Rum, Mocha Chocolate Moonshine (and more), the ultimate adult indulgence awaits with these crafty cocktails:
  • Naughty & Nice: No matter what list you’re on, enjoy this peppermint and mocha treat
  • Rum Juice Tango: Pa rum pum pum pum with this coconut + pineapple cocktail
  • Old Fashioned Milkshake: The classic just got better
PROOF is available online or at retailers like Lowes Foods, Total Wine & More, Green’s Beverages, and more.*
6AM City In-house

Weather
  • 67º | Rainy | 90% chance of rain ☔️
Development
  • Since being selected by USC, development company Gilbane will lead the planning, design, development, and construction of the university’s health sciences campus coming to the BullStreet District. The new campus is set to open in 2027.
Sports
  • The Gamecocks hired a new offensive coordinator for the football team. Coach Dowell Loggains is no stranger to the game, having experience in college and NFL football. See what Coach Beamer says about his new hire and get to know Coach Loggains in this video of yesterday’s press conference. 👀
Coming Soon
  • The Main Street District, Santa Claus, and Mayor Rickenmann will be unveiling a new light installation this Friday, Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m. The Ceiling of Lights will be a permanent canopy of thousands of LED lights on the 1600 Block of Main Street.
Environment
  • In collaboration with Rivian EV maker and the SC Energy Office, SC State Parks will soon have electric vehicle chargers powered by 100% renewable energy across the state. Two Waypoints chargers have already been installed at Dreher Island and Rivian will install chargers at 24+ state parks beginning next year. 🔋
Edu
  • USC is launching a new Digital Studies certificate program next year, giving students the opportunity to gain in-demand digital skills for careers in any field. The new 12-hour credit program will be available to all undergraduate students and offered in three colleges. 💻
Shop
  • We have the perfect gift idea for the foodie in your life. For one week only, (Dec. 19–23) pre-sale tickets to the 2023 Columbia Food and Wine Festival’s Grand Tasting are available here. All festival ticket sales will be available in January 2023. 🎟
Fact or Fiction
  • We’ve all heard the claims. “Jogging is better than walking.” “You need to walk 10,000 steps to see benefits.” But is that true? Find out what’s fact + what’s fiction as medical experts debunk these seven walking myths. 🚶*
Biz
  • On the heels of recently announcing a partnership with Sharps Technology, Nephron Pharmaceuticals and the medical device + pharmaceutical packaging company have yet another announcement: a distribution agreement for innovative syringe products. The agreement demonstrates how the partnership will fuel manufacturing growth in SC.*
Home
  • PSA Columbia: For the rest of 2022, tax credits of up to 30% are available on qualified energy efficiency improvements (think: upgrading or switching to ENERGY STAR® certified home heating + cooling products). The credits are part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which is lowering energy costs and tackling climate change across the US. Pro tip: Get help and advice from Cool Care Heating + Air to begin your next project. *
Drink
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Charleston Jewish Federation

A place we know, just covered in snow ☃️

Historical snowy moments in Columbia, SC
1.8.1973
The State House covered in snow on Jan., 8, 1973. | Photo by the Richland Library’s digital archives
Word on the street is, we may have a white Christmas this year. Here in Famously Hot Columbia, usually the closest resemblance we see to snow is sludgy ice, so we want to see if you can recognize Columbia blanketed in snow from winters past.

Take a look at these three images of Columbia covered in snow from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Can you still recognize where you are in the city?

Photo A — Jan. 28, 1968.
1.25.1968

Do you snow where you are? | Photo by Richland Library’s digital archives


Photo B — Dec 17, 1973.
12.17.1973

Do you snow where you are? | Photo by Richland Library’s digital archives


These pictures gave us chills. We were inspired and wanted to take one step further into history to see what you would have read in The State Newspaper on the day these photos were taken.

Click the button below for more images, the correct answers, and read what was happening in Columbia through historical headlines.
SNOW THE ANSWERS HERE
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Sam.

Editor’s pick: It may not be a top Google search, but we know a few of you who are wondering how to find relevant events near you and how to add your events to our calendar. Follow these three easy steps:
  • Go to our Events page
  • Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner (or just click here.)
  • And voila! Pro tip — we comb through all of our events and mark our top picks as “Editor’s Pick” so you can easily spot the most relevant of the relevant events happening in Cola.
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? See our guide to New Year’s Eve 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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